Svilar: “Looking for a big performance”

Read what our goalkeeper had to say...

You've been Roma's saviour on many occasions. When you first started grabbing the headlines in January, did you expect to find yourself in this position now?

“No, I didn't expect it after so many months in which I hadn't been playing much. But I just get on with my job, as we all do. Things are going well but tomorrow we'll be looking for a big performance as a team. All together.”

This is the best moment of your career so far. What's it like for you? Did you expect to make such an impact?

“As I just said, no, I didn't. You wait for your chance and my chance came, partly thanks to the boss. I'm happy but we're not thinking about individual performances: we want to win as a team.”

Sometimes you're called upon to build play from the back but you often play with different defenders. Does that change anything for you? Do you think about and study the qualities of your team-mates?

“It's not just what I study; it also depends on what the boss asks me to do. I try to do the best I can. I always watch all of my matches again and I can see that's an area where I need to improve. I feel good in training and in matches and I like spending lots of time with my team-mates. I think we're doing a good job at the back but we need to keep improving and we will.”

What worries you most about Bayer Leverkusen? Their pace, they fact the team runs like clockwork, or the way they get the ball forward quickly?

“They've certainly got pace. They're a great team – we've all seen that. They've been playing together for a long time with a coach who's been with them for a year and a half. It's easier for them because they know each other so well. They haven't lost for 47 games but we'll go out there and give it our best shot.”