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Here is what our coach had to say.
How are Manu Kone and Paulo Dybala feeling ahead of this match against Fiorentina? How important is the presence of the club owners when it comes to making plans?
“Kone has recovered, while Dybala had already made a full recovery last week and played for a part of the game. They have done even better these past few days, so they will both be available on Monday. Corbin Friedkin’s presence is a clear sign: the owners are starting to work not only on the end of the season, which is our priority right now, but also on long-term planning.”
Has this been a transition season? When will you start planning the future?
“There are two simultaneous fronts right now. There’s the league, where there is still much to do and much going on. On Monday night, we are playing a very important game against Fiorentina, a team who have had a positive streak lately – I think they currently hold a streak of seven consecutive positive results – and they have recovered from a difficult situation in the standings. They are a talented team; they may have struggled this season, but they are still competitive. We are completely focused on this match because we are still in it with four matchdays left this season. We must also look at the other teams’ results, but we are well aware of the standings and we must remain concentrated on this final part of the season. The team have shown an excellent attitude from the very start, and we want to keep this up in these four final matches, which will all be important, with one of them also being the derby. Of course, there will also be talks about the future, but now is not the time for that. I’m not trying to avoid the subject. I don’t want to talk about it because the season is still ongoing. When the time comes, I’ll try to be as clear as possible, also towards the fans, who want to know what the club’s plans are, rightly so.”
Is Roma late in terms of planning compared to other clubs?
“Over the past weeks, there has been a major development and we must acknowledge the fact that the club has faced a great, unexpected disappointment, and consequently it had to take a path it had not initially anticipated. However, I don’t believe that other clubs have already done everything they had to do right now. Clubs who start a bit late can recover within the expected timeframe. Of course, the owners will need time and a clear overview to make their decisions, but they do have the expertise and tools to do so in the best possible way.”
Do you think you can make up with Frederic Massara? What can you tell us about Roma Women winning the league title?
“Right now, I want to talk about our upcoming match against Fiorentina. As I’ve already said, we are working on two fronts simultaneously: one is the league, which includes Monday’s game, a very important one indeed. Apart from that, we’ll have time to talk about it properly and when the time is right. It will largely be up to the owners to judge these matters. One front is clearly visible, namely our matches, while the other one requires time as it concerns the next season. I don’t want to go into details right now, although at a later stage we’ll have to clarify what we intend to build. The women’s team winning the league title was beautiful, it was great. We need to follow their example. Perhaps winning the Scudetto is still a distant goal for us, but our objective must be to become as good and competitive as they are. Congratulations.”
Have you had the chance to talk about your future with the club owners? Do you have a meeting planned?
“That should be the case. I hope that’s what is going to happen. However, now we are completely focused on our upcoming matches and the league, and that’s how it should be. When the time comes to talk about the future, that’s what we’ll do. It seems as though we are getting close to that moment, but when it comes everything must be as clear and transparent as possible.”
What’s your opinion on the overall level in the Champions League, following the game between PSG and Bayern Munich, and how far behind is Italian football?
“I had a lot of fun; I really enjoyed the match. Of course, they made some mistakes, but there were also many remarkable technical skills shown by the players. It all depends on what you want to look at. I personally found it very enjoyable and I believe that anyone who has watched it enjoyed it too. As far as Italian clubs are concerned, we are not doing very well in terms of European competitions; it’s perhaps one of our worst periods in recent years. However, this must push us to react; we mustn’t be discouraged. If the national team and clubs struggle not just against top-level opponents but against others too, then we probably need to change the way we work. One thing that is different is how a team is built, right? That too can be a sign we can think about. Anyway, it’s complicated. There are multiple factors to consider. We saw amazing plays, brilliant goals, which are consistent with the level of the players – it could hardly be otherwise – anyway, that truly is top-level football. There are also other levels that we can aim for.”
How do you assess the overall performance of the players whose contracts are expiring at the end of the season?
“This has been an unusual season, with many players with expiring contracts and many on loan. It wasn’t easy to get to four matchdays from the end with such a level of engagement and remain competitive and still in the hunt. It was a risky situation. I am very grateful to the players for this, as they have shown great professionalism and loyalty. The reaction we saw in Bologna, for example, means a lot. All I can do is thank them because their performances have shown that they are fully committed to the team, and their objective is to get the best possible result. This needs to be acknowledged because there’s more to it than just technical and athletic values: a team must also have moral values, which are crucial for a football team. That is the foundation we must build on. If you can also add top-level players to further enhance the team’s quality, then you’ve really hit the jackpot.”
Roma have been struggling in the final minutes of their matches. Is it a physical problem or is it related to the players’ attributes?
“If we look at those figures, we’re probably faring far better than other teams. The fact that we’re in fifth place in the table is proof of that: it means that in many ways the team are doing well. It’s also true, however, that in the final minutes we’ve been unable to pick up points as other teams – sometimes our direct rivals – have been able to in similar situations. This needs to be taken into account and we need to work on it to improve.”
Has Wesley become a left winger or can he move back to the right?
“Wesley is a player who has grown a lot. He can play both on the right and on the left, although his natural position is on the right. This is further proof of a concept, namely that when you have good players, you have them play and you find the most suitable position for them. It also depends on the situation at hand. Lately we’ve had [Zeki] Celik available, while we’ve virtually never used Angelino and that was a major loss. Wesley remains a talented player and that’s what’s most important.”
Are you satisfied with the improvements of the team’s individual players? Do you believe there is still room for improvement?
“There is room for improvement for all of them, not just the younger ones. Of course, those who have played for fewer seasons may seem to have greater chances of growing, but you can actually grow at any age by always learning something new. Yes, I’m satisfied. They’ve all worked well so far and no one has been neglected. They have all had their chance to play multiple times and make their contribution, including those who got less space. The team’s behaviour – both in training and in matches – has always been impeccable. We’ve never had any problems or incidents. They’ve all been very professional, outstanding. I can only thank them for that. The fact that we’re still in the race a few matchdays from the end is all thanks to them.”
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