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This is what the coach had to say:
What's your take on the fixture chaos of this week?
“The thing is, we are so up for this game, for this race, the chase on fourth place, that we would have played at any time on any day. We're also the ones least affected but it hasn't exactly been an example of good planning. I'm sorry for the fans mainly, especially for those of other cities, because we have the derby right here but for clubs in other cities the fans need to travel. It's also an inconvenience for the clubs who need to travel themselves. Having five games being played all at the same time is very nice and exciting for everyone, but playing at midday on a Sunday is not ideal.”
What's the main danger in a match like this?
“The danger is that Lazio are an excellent team. Obviously their season is over now and their only motivation is to stop Roma from getting into the Champions League. Our own motivation is much stronger, much more real, more connected to the result itself, but that doesn't make it any less difficult because the derby is always difficult for everyone and because, as I said, Lazio are an excellent team.”
How confident are you about Paulo Dybala signing a new contract?
“It's already a good thing that both parties, the owners and the player, have the same idea. That's very positive. When both sides are willing, a solution can be found.”
Do you feel you're at the centre of Roma's plans and Roma's vision for the future?
“The club is at the centre of Roma's plans because the plans are a lot bigger, a lot more all-encompassing – from the stadium to the future and the continuity this ownership can provide, not just in terms of investment but also in terms of planning. I'm in charge of the football side so my responsibility is limited to building the best team possible, trying to make it as pleasing as possible for the club and the fans, and trying to achieve the best results possible. That's my role.”
How important is it to have the owners around?
“It's crucial because when the owners are around everything works better. There are fewer people relaying information, much more opportunity to interact directly, without any intermediaries who, involuntarily or otherwise, can alter opinions. What I think is really important is that with the owners here decisions are taken very quickly. I really hope that in the coming days Ryan [Friedkin] can, as has happened before, besides dealing with players' agents quickly, get to know these players who really are giving their all for these owners and for this club. Regardless of what the future of any given player might be, getting to know people personally is important, both for the owners and the player himself. It brings together, builds a bond, and adds value. And values are important. The legacy of certain players from the past is something that clubs carry forward and pass on. And by being here the owners can appreciate that more and feel it more.”
Do you think you coaches should make yourselves heard as Maurizio Sarri has?
“No, I think football is nice when you play it. Sarri had his reasons but football is great when you play it, when the stadium is full and when matches are being played. Let's take away some of the negative pressure and start enjoying ourselves even in games when – at least for us – there's a lot riding on it. As always, it goes back to the fact that a full stadium and a football match should be a show. Sometimes a full stadium can put on more of a show than the game itself. Let's try to make these matches enjoyable for the fans.”
Do you believe in such a thing as 'derby men'? And speaking of which, how is Lorenzo Pellegrini?
“It's something to factor in, yes, because I do believe that certain players – whenever they're born and grow up in a team where they feel belonging – should play in derbies. It means more to them than, for example, a player who has recently joined, perhaps from abroad, and doesn't have the same understanding of what it's about, especially everything around it – the fans and how much passion goes into a derby.
“Some players feel a lot more on an emotional level. Sometimes that can lead them, emotionally, to not perform well. Other times it brings the best out of them. Pellegrini is one of those players who has often been decisive in past derbies. Unfortunately he had an injury. He's trained all week and we'll look at him today. Clearly if he's ok and fit, he's a player I'll be counting on, be it from the start or from the bench.”
The Lazio fans won't be entering the stadium – only around 1,000 are expected inside. What do you think about that? Could it have an impact on the game?
“Right now we're playing against ourselves. Tomorrow we have Lazio, who as I've said already are an excellent team, but it could be another team. We're trying to reach a target that until not long ago seemed very difficult, so our full focus will be on the pitch tomorrow. That's what we need to be thinking about because we know how important it is to win tomorrow. We need absolute focus on the match, on playing the match. We know it's a derby but for us it's a match we really must try to win so that we can achieve as much as we can.”
A few weeks ago you said, 'If my ideas are followed, great; otherwise it would be better to look for something else.' In the meetings you've had the last few days, did you get the impression your ideas will be followed, as you hoped?
“The owners are here and they're doing a lot, but of course we're focused on the league now. There are two games left and we're sure of a Europa League place, which is already a good achievement. We've pulled away from some great teams like Bologna, who have played in the Champions League, like Atalanta, who have played in the Champions League, and Lazio. We're still up there battling away, level on points with Milan, a point behind Juventus and three behind Napoli, with two games left to play. We could say that we've already done a lot but that's no reason for us not to want more. We must try and do even better in these last two matches.”
Do you find it surprising that with two games left to play there are still so many teams in the race for the Champions League spots? And who do you think are the favourites?
“You really can't say because we're all there or thereabouts. Como have been the real surprise package this season – and a very positive one too, with the quality of their play and their performances. Apart from Inter, who are out on their own, the others are all very close. Being so close I think gives us even more motivation and strength.”
Stephan El Shaarawy announced his departure yesterday with a post. Have you spoken to him in the last few days? What's the situation with the other two players whose contracts are expiring, Pellegrini and Zeki Celik?
“The owners are here, partly for these situations that could have been very tricky to deal with, especially in the second half of the season – I mean, having so many players with expiring contracts who in theory can make agreements with other clubs. They've shown their sense of belonging to Roma and their professionalism. Now the owners are trying to work out solutions to these situations and I'm very confident.
“I spoke to El Shaarawy a few weeks ago. Now he's come to this decision. We have two more games and I'll tell him today that we have these last two and he has another chance tomorrow, so the focus must be first and foremost on this, then afterwards he will rightly be celebrated, but first of all there are these two games.”
How is Dybala and how big a regret is it that he wasn't available for so many months?
“We've commented on this lots of times but it's in the past. There might be time now. Hopefully we won't have to see it as a regret. He's fine now. He's back and he's played 90 minutes. He doesn't have any problems with his fitness.”
How big a difference would finishing in the top four make to the assessment of this season, considering the work that has been done over the course of the year?
“Not a lot to me personally, but I do understand that for the club finishing second, third, fourth, fifth or sixth does make a difference, above all from a financial perspective. On a technical level, what the players have given me this year has been nothing short of extraordinary. I've said that time and again. I'll always be grateful to every one of them – not only those who have played the most – for their attitude, behaviour, belonging and professionalism. It's been a fantastic experience from my point of view. That's another reason why I hope we can finish the job and go beyond expectations, although it was always the target we set for ourselves. It's important for that reason.”
What are you expecting from Lazio?
“You'd have to ask Sarri that. I don't know. I do expect a real match because Lazio will understandably be trying to... Of course, their morale is not going to be sky high but that doesn't mean they won't be doing all they can to upset our plans.”
What's your perception of your relationship with the city and the fans? And do you have a message for tomorrow?
“I'd like to give a message on the pitch at the end of the game tomorrow. It's not the time for messages just yet. It's been amazing but let's wait to finish the season first. I'm very grateful as it's been an incredible season from that perspective. It wasn't easy to earn the trust of all these fans. Now we have to finish. Let's keep going and wait for these two games. I'd like to repay them in some way, perhaps with a good result.”
Artem Dovbyk is training with the team again. What condition is he in?
“Dovbyk is finally back with the team. He's started again. It's so nice to see him on the pitch. Seeing players out injured all the time is the saddest thing, also because you have to imagine how much work these lads do with their physios, over weeks and months, to recover after a long injury, after surgery, for example. Seeing them back on the pitch at last, doing what they're supposed to be doing, is already a great result. It's hard to imagine him on the pitch tomorrow because he's been out for many, many months, but the fact that he's recovered and is playing football again is already a huge positive.”
Before the Parma game, Roma had not scored a single goal after the 90th minute in Serie A. Do you think there's been a mental switch as Roma still have a real possibility of getting into the Champions League?
“Well, obviously we were out and now we're back in it – that's a big fillip. It's true that, especially in the first half of the season, there was a long period in which we weren't able to get back into games. There were lots of matches at the start, I can't remember how many, when, if we fell behind, we hardly ever managed to come back. Things changed afterwards, probably because the lads grew in confidence and partly because, against Parma for example, we got a bit of luck, to score twice in stoppage time. But we had conceded a few, like against Juventus. For sure it's a quality we've acquired and we've shown it in other games too. It's a good quality for a team to have. It increases your chances of, and your belief in, being able to turn games around.”
Would you say the Rome derby is one of the most intriguing Italian derbies?
“It's certainly intriguing. My own view of derbies in whatever city – I've experienced the Genoa derby many times, the Milan derby marginally, and seen many a Turin derby – is that it should be a celebration for the city. Having two teams facing off in Serie A, often in lofty positions. Sometimes derbies are ruined by acts of violence. The aim is to remove that element, of not being able to play in the evening for example, these limitations we sadly have, which detract from the beauty of having thousands and thousands of people coming to the stadium. Because the derby is an exciting occasion, unlike any other match. What I really like about the Rome derby is the ability Romans have to make jokes, the ribbing that goes on. It's something unique, beautiful and fun. If we could get back to that, it would be amazing. I know it seems utopian but that's what we should all be trying to achieve.”
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