Pisilli's pre Stuttgart press conference

Here’s what the youngster had to say.

There's been a lot of talk about your potential departure. Will you be staying or leaving? The coach said that you deserve more action, and that’s what happened. I'd like to ask you what convinced him.

“The transfer window closes on 2 February, but I'm totally focused on Roma, on tomorrow's match, and on all of the matches that will come between now and the end of the transfer window and the end of the season. As for getting action, it's true that I've played a little more lately. I've tried to be ready by always training as best I can throughout this period, even though I may not have been playing that much.

“However, there’s been no time wasted. It’s because even when you don't play on the weekend you have a whole week to work, to try to improve and to convince the coach to show you that you're up to task. I hope I've given good performances in these matches. I've tried to give my all, and that's what I'll always do.”

Do you feel like you’re a better player now?

“Yes, I think I've improved in recent months, and above all, I've better understood the coach's demands. It’s because when a new coach comes in you have to adapt to the new demands, which may differ from the previous boss’s. I think these past months have also been crucial in understanding what kind of player I needed to become in order to play my best football.”

Will you be in the team tomorrow? How difficult is it to unseat the core players?

“I don't know the line-up - I'm not the one who picks it! As for the other question, it's true - Roma's midfield is formidable, and this is a great opportunity for me to learn and improve by observing them.

“Obviously every player wants to play as many games as possible, and I do my best in every training session to give the coach a selection headache at the weekend when he has to decide who’ll be in the team. That being said, I think the fact that Roma has so many top midfielders is good for the club, for the coach and for the team.”

Is there a particular aspect in which you feel you've improved since Gian Piero Gasperini came in as coach?

“I’ve improved in many ways - physically, defensively and tactically. It’s because the more coaches you have, the more knowledge they instil in you, the more you absorb it, and the better you become as a player. I try to understand the coach's demands as best as I can, to get a grasp of what he wants, and I try to bring this onto the pitch.”

If you could take one characteristic from Bryan Cristante, one from Neil El Aynaoui and one from Manu Kone, what would you take from each of them?

“They’re three very different players. I think Manu stands out for his physical strength - perhaps it's his greatest virtue. Bryan is a very smart player. He's been a Roma player for many years, and before that he played for Atalanta. He's had a wonderful career and he’s proven himself season on season. As for Neil, he’s also a top player. He’s really intense, both in defence and attack. They are three truly great players.”