Giugliano focused on starting group stage well

Midfielder Manuela Giugliano faced the media on Wednesday morning, to preview Roma Women's Champions League group stage debut this week.

The Giallorosse host Slavia Prague in Latina on Thursday night (kick-off: 21:00 CEST) in their first match in Group B.

Here's what Giugliano told reporters ahead of the contest...

What are the feelings ahead of this game? What atmosphere are you expecting in Latina?

“There’s definitely a lot of different emotions right now, even if we already experienced some of them during the play-in games for this competition. I think we have shown the quality we have. And, putting that together with the emotions we were feeling, we were able to make it to the group stage of this competition.

“In Latina we are expecting a really good crowd who will cheer us on: we need them. I know that about 1000 tickets have already been sold and that by tomorrow that number will only have grown further. We are pleased about that, we cannot wait for the game to start.”

You have a tattoo of the number 10 – do you feel the responsibility that comes with wearing that No. 10 shirt?

“I think the No. 10 shirt speaks for itself. Here in Rome that shirt has an incredible importance and so to wear it for this club is a big deal. I think it’s normal that there is a responsibility whenever you wear a number like that. But it gives me a little extra boost to try and help the team and the club to do as well as we possibly can.”

Roma always try to impose their style on the game – but against Slavia Prague, will you perhaps adapt slightly to adjust to the opposition threat?

“Adjust to the opposition, absolutely not. We will try to go out there and play to our strengths: keep the ball on the group, which is the Roma way. We are going up against a really physical side but if we impose our way of play then I don’t think we will need to adapt to anything. I think we’ve already shown that in the league this season and our European games so far. We have already faced some really physical sides but thanks to the way we play we have been able to get the results.”

You say that Roma like to play with the ball on the ground. What is your role in that, especially when it comes to making sure you have a balance in defending and initiating counter-attacks. How can the team improve, both in stopping those counters against you and in exploiting them when attacking?

“Balance is always crucial in any match; you need someone in central midfield who can keep the ball and win it back as well. It’s definitely important to read the game well in the middle of the park. I think that a lot of a match can be decided in that area. I think we can still work on that aspect of things, to improve things even more defensively.

“In terms of our edge in front of goal, it’s something we are working on in training. I think it’s one thing that we have always had some room for improvement, which we’ve seen in the past. But we have improved a lot in that aspect compared to a few years ago.

“We are trying to make sure we improve game by game. Clearly, playing every three days like we are at the moment means it is difficult to work on it a lot in training – because we are already working on a lot of other important things. But by playing, we can also improve it on the pitch.”

What is the mood like within the changing room?

“There’s a lot of confidence in the group we have been able to build this season. Not just from pre-season but even from last season, because I think we did lots of good things last season and we have picked up again from that point this term. So there’s a good atmosphere within the group, built on a lot of confidence in what we’ve been able to build so far.”

How important is it to have a lot of international experience in a game like this?

“I think experience of international games is really important, because we are only playing top sides now. So that experience gives me a bit of extra insight that I can use to help the team. I think playing regularly at international level gives you a different edge to some of your teammates.”

At what point do you think the team is on its current journey? And where could the team eventually arrive?

“I am really proud to have been here for four years so far and to have been one of the key figures in an improvement of the team that the club was after. It’s been an impressive rise. From that first season, where the team was completely new, we have now built a solid, strong squad that can aim for the top.

“That’s definitely a credit to not just the club but also us girls and the coaches and all those who have believed in what we are trying to do.

“As for targets, we set them on a game-by-game basis. We want to win the game and then focus on the next one. We will remain humble. Right now, the target is simply to do as well as we can in the first game of the group stage. Then we will see.”