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Read what he had to say below.
What do you think about your squad? Is it perhaps incomplete?
“In terms of numbers, yes, because we can have 23 players on our squad list – that’s what UEFA allows us, particularly for the Champions League. At the moment we still have two spots free, so that’s where we are with numbers. Aside from that, we’ve had four players join us. We’ve got [Nahuel] Molina, who is an important player. He played in the World Cup final and he’s been world champion. He’s already a mature and solid player. He’s come in to replace [Zeki] Celik. Since May, [Artem] Dovbyk and [Evan] Ferguson have left, and [Santiago] Castro has come in. He’s definitely a quality player. Then we’ve got [Konstantinos] Koulierakis, the sort of player we were lacking in defence. We were missing a player with his characteristics behind [Mario] Hermoso. Lastly, we’ve now got [Rodrigo] Mora. Compared to May, [Stephan] El Shaarawy, [Lorenzo] Venturino and [Bryan] Zaragoza have left so we’ll try to replace them. One has arrived and I’m hoping another will too. Angelino and [Kostas] Tsimikas have also left and hopefully we’ll be able to replace them too. We’re certainly reducing the squad but also trying to make it more competitive. Regarding the lads that have arrived, I’m very happy. They’re all players that really wanted to join Roma. Castro took the train to get here quicker and all the others were similar, including Rodrigo Mora. Contracts have obviously been cut, as I said earlier, due to the need to reduce the wage bill. In this respect, I think we’ve done a good job. There are still ten days to go and we’re hoping everything will be finalised.”
Regarding Mora, I wanted to ask you how he’s been doing in training over these first few days. You’ve got Fiorentina on Monday: on one hand there’s a lot of excitement to see what he can do, on the other, there’s Franco Mastantuono. Do you think this shows that Italian football is starting to believe more in youngsters?
“Yes, often it’s a necessary step, but there can also be a positive side to it. As far as I’m concerned, Rodrigo is a very young lad, but he’s achieved some impressive things. He scored ten goals at Porto two years ago. It’s a very significant investment by the club, especially looking towards the future. He’s someone who has all the qualities to make his mark and do well.”
To complete the squad, are you looking for a player such as Ademola Lookman, who has pace, athleticism and speed?
“Yes, but we started with some very high-profile signings, that’s nothing new. However, we then had to think about keeping the wage bill under certain limits, so you can’t just go out and sign players who might have the qualities you’re looking for. I have to say though that everyone, including this club, has made investments in another type of player, who may be a bit younger and not as established. I think we have variety. I’m very happy with the attitude that players such as [Paulo] Dybala and [Lorenzo] Pellegrini have had with regards to taking a wage cut, and the same with [Bryan] Cristante. I can say the same about those who have renewed. Initially, I myself thought that once we got to the Champions League, all our financial issues would be resolved. The club and the owners probably thought the same too. We had a different vision that, over the course of these few weeks, we’ve had to adjust by changing our strategy and path. But we’re all used to looking ahead to the future, aren’t we? Sometimes when you think you can do something, you realise that you have to do something different. As far as financial restraints are concerned, we’re all satisfied with what’s been achieved so far. We’ll probably be even more satisfied in ten days’ time, and I hope the owners will be too.”
With the start of the new season approaching, is it right to build on those 73 points and the third-place finish, or should we draw a line under it and start from zero?
“You start from zero every year. What we achieved was hugely positive and I think everyone was happy with it. When the season restarts, everyone starts from zero and those 73 points from last season have to be replayed. We need to focus on ourselves. I believe that in the team – or in the starting 11 if you like – there’s been a good degree of consolidation but nothing particularly new. However, we’re trying to make the squad more competitive with players who, as I said before, can and will bring added value. I do think the squad is more competitive. This is more or less the same squad, but we have lads who are really keen to play for Roma and really want to achieve the best for the club, and I think that’s a huge asset. They’ve shown that through tangible results too.
“We’ve also got to take into account what other teams are doing because clearly there are teams that missed out on a Champions Leage spot, including Fiorentina who we will face on Monday, but you can also think about other highly decorated teams that are doing great things because it’s in their DNA, in their history, to always compete and play at the highest level. We need to focus on our own path at the moment, with the opportunities available to us and, by extension, to the club. There’s no point beating around the bush: Financial Fair Play is a constraint. Perhaps Roma are the only club in Italy that have to pay the price for this situation.
“It’s something that stems from the past, for which we certainly don’t feel completely responsible, but that’s the way it is and we need to look ahead. We need to try and resolve this situation the best we can while still trying to improve our team. Then, fortunately, besides the numbers, we have something else on our side that few others have: passion. And we certainly draw a lot on that, and we can still achieve great things.”
This winger, this left-winger with certain qualities, are you insisting on getting on him? Do you need him? If you don’t get him, will that change things?
“Only if he’s going to bring added value, otherwise no. I’m not going to sign players for the sake of it. I’ve always said that those that join us do so because we really want them and they really want to come and play for Roma. In terms of numbers, as I’ve said before, we could bring in two more players, but only if they’re the right match and if we can sign them on terms we can afford. So, if the transfer market offers that, then that’s what we’ll do. Otherwise, we’ll stay as we are.”
Earlier you admitted that Roma’s objectives have changed along the way, at least as far as players you’re targeting are concerned. You started looking for players with high salaries and the most expensive transfer fees but then you changed strategy. Why? Have you received any communication from UEFA?
“There’s only the matter of UEFA, and that is fairly well known and understood. There are no other options. There are conditions that UEFA impose which, unfortunately, even our owners cannot escape, no matter how much they’d like to.”
But there was a player like Crysencio Summerville, for example, who you had practically signed and then you changed your mind. Why?
“Unfortunately deals and other options change. Maybe if we’d done that, we wouldn’t have been able to do anything else. Or maybe his contract was viable at that point in time, but others weren’t. There are technical parameters that aren’t easily explained, but we have to trust the club on these matters. They’re quite complex and force a club under UEFA’s supervision – such as Roma, the only one in Italy at the moment – to comply with certain conditions until it comes out of this situation. I, too, thought that after six months or after qualifying for the Champions League, the situation would be completely resolved. That’s not the way it is. This is what’s forcing us to operate this way during the transfer window. However, it’s a creative window, and a very positive one too.
“It’s obviously different to what we thought after qualifying for the Champions League, but personally I think what we’re doing seems to be something very positive. In the short term, I believe we’ll be ready to do well regardless. Looking to the future, Roma will certainly find even more value and better resolve these problems that stem from previous years. It’s worth noting that Roma has already been granted two extensions and it’s unlikely that UEFA will grant another. That’s basically the situation; you all know that. It’s not something that’s been thrown upon us randomly. The problem is that perhaps the day of reckoning has arrived. We’ll handle it well anyway and we’ll do well. We’ll still be strong because these lads have all taken very significant steps to play for Roma and to have a great season with Roma.”
Do you expect anyone to leave in these last ten days of the transfer window or are you just expecting new arrivals?
“No, I’ve always been quite clear on this. To complete last season’s squad, we needed a defender, a full-back and two wide forwards. Then, any players leaving could be replaced. We’ve done well to replace Celik with Molina and, as I said before, Ferguson and Dovbyk with Castro. That’s it. Now we need to finalise the squad. If there are any other departures, though the transfer window is almost drawing to a close, it’ll only be to replace them. At the moment, no one else is leaving.”
Based on what you’ve seen, is it possible that Paulo Dybala might make more appearances this season compared to the last few years?
“Definitely. He’s not just determined - I saw that from him last season too, he’s always very determined - but now I can see that he’s stronger. He’s managed to complete a pre-season without injuries, which he hasn’t been able to do for a long time. Obviously, we’re always crossing our fingers because in my opinion he was extremely unlucky last season. I remember two of his injuries: one taking a penalty in Milan and another taking a free-kick against Torino. They really were rare cases. One of them resulted in a meniscus injury and kept him out for three and a half months.
“On the other hand, from a physical perspective, he seems to me a much more toned player. Of course, he might not have the speed and the shooting power he had when he was younger, but he’s improved in all respects and in other areas too. He’s the type of player that, if you take him off occasionally, can be substituted but otherwise he always finishes matches feeling a lot fresher that a lot of the others. I think he’s in good form. He’s a relatively young player – he’s 32 now – and he’s still very strong and at the peak of his technical and physical maturity. I think he’ll have a great season. Of course, let’s hope there aren’t any anomalies like there were last year, because those were two extremely rare incidents.”
Fiorentina are a revitalised side. I imagine you may have some doubts about who to play up front, due to Fiorentina’s formation too. There could be a chance for Bryan Cristante, for Matias Soule or even for Rodrigo Mora. Could you clarify this a little? And then, on your ultimate goal: if the two players you’re waiting for arrive, could we hear the word “Scudetto” mentioned here?
“We need to see what the others do too, don’t we? We need to know our enemies – I mean our opponents in this case. We need to focus on our own path. We’re aiming to do the best we can with what we have, and I’m convinced that we’ll do well. As for the final result, I don’t know. It will depend a lot on what our opponents do too. We need to start off, just as we did last year, by focusing on Fiorentina, a team that have been very active in the transfer market. But above all we also need to draw on the motivation we have at this point in time, with our desire to have a great season and to build on last year’s finish and campaign. The past two months have been a bit strange for players who were at the World Cup and who are clearly in a different physical condition to those who have completed the full pre-season training.
“We’ve also got some players like Molina and Mora who have only just arrived. Obviously for us, as is the case for many other teams, there’s a bit of uncertainty going into the first match. I think that applies to everyone. The first match is the one in which you’re not entirely sure about the team’s overall condition. Some players are in better shape, others not so much, and so the line-up can be influenced by that too. Some have only been here for a few days, and the transfer window is still open. I think it’ll be like that for everyone at the start. Everyone will need a bit of time. One thing we definitely don’t lack is the desire to start off on the right foot straight away. We’re playing in a full stadium again, with high expectations, and for us that’s a key source of strength to go and attack straight away with our best players.”
I wanted to ask you about Soule. Last year he had a rather unusual season because, maybe just as he was reaching his best form, he had to stop due to a groin issue and when he returned, he didn’t seem to be back at his best. How has he been doing since then? Has he overcome those issues?
“He had a great first half of the season and then he had this groin issue. When he came back for pre-seasons, he’d been out for quite a while and had been trying to treat the problem. He arrived quite overweight and wasn’t fully recovered. However, during this pre-season, he’s been amazing. He’s been exceptional. He’s bounced back and I have to say that he’s now in excellent shape. He put in some great performances in pre-season friendlies and has recovered brilliantly, both physically as far as the groin issue is concerned, and in terms of his athleticism and fitness. So, in that respect too, I believe he’s fully recovered and back to the level he was at in the first half of last season.”
What are you expecting from Fiorentina? Do you think it's a good thing to be playing them straight away considering the transfer business they've done? And what do you expect from Fabio Grosso this season?
“You never know when the best time is to play a certain team, so it's all good. The fixture list threw up Fiorentina. The first five games – the first part of the season – are all tough on paper, but we'll tackle them really determined to make a good start. They've obviously made a lot of good signings and have brought in a new coach, so you have to look at the matches they've played in pre-season. Grosso had an excellent season with Sassuolo in Serie A last time out. It's new for them. Playing a match like this straight away will show us where we are at the moment.”
You spoke about the players who came back after the World Cup and said there's a difference between those who were here at the start of pre-season and the others who joined up later. How far behind the others do you think they are in terms of fitness?
“Wesley had to miss the World Cup but he trained in pre-season, and fitness-wise he's in good shape. Ndicka and Malen came back a bit later.
“Ndicka's physique allows him to recover quite quickly. He struggled a little at the start but he looked good in our last friendly against Dortmund.
“The World Cup had a bit of an impact on Malen, more psychologically than physically, but playing for Roma and feeling important for this team – not just with his goals but also with his leadership – will help him to get back to his best.
“Then there's Kone, who came back last. He's another one who returns to fitness quite quickly.
“[Neil] El Aynaoui is somewhere in between. But it's perfectly normal when you have players coming back at different times and at different stages. It doesn't take long – just a week or two more.
“Molina played in the final with Argentina too and only got here this week. But he too manages to get back into shape pretty quickly.”
You've spoken about future prospects and developing youngsters but Rodrigo Mora for example, looking at his age and his physical and technical attributes, doesn't exactly fit with the type of player you described a few months ago when you spoke about Venturino and Vaz. Nor can he be compared to the likes of [Donyell] Malen or Wesley, whom you described as another type of player you could be looking for. Can you explain what happened in the meantime? Have your ideas changed or has there been a change of perspective?
“I think I've been pretty clear on this. Rodrigo Mora is a player who played for Porto and whose development followed a different path to that of the other lads. The comparisons you're making are a little unbalanced. Those other lads will probably go on to have excellent careers but Rodrigo Mora is a bit further ahead. I don't think you can make comparisons. That said, Rodrigo Mora is still a very young player – he's 19. I don't know what kind of expectations you have; mine are that he's a player who can definitely help us. He's a talented player. But I don't think you can place the responsibility of being a leader at a Champions League team on him at the age of 19. Perhaps he will become one, I certainly hope so. But as someone who's worked in football for years, you know very well that there are certain steps that need to be taken even by these very talented youngsters.”
How does Kone seem from a psychological point of view? Is he focused, given all the rumours interest in him from England? And if you're going with Lulli, how is his development coming along?
“Lulli is another very young player. He'll be part of the squad and will continue his development. He's shown me that he has the ability to be part of the Roma squad.
“Regardless of everything that people might have said or written about Kone – and there's a lot – there were never any real negotiations or requests. I think Kone is a key player for Roma and I think he's happy to play for Roma. I don't think any of the top teams have sold their big names. It's been a very strange transfer window where the teams at the top have not really sold any of their players.”
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