Tickets
Shop
Below you can read what the Giallorossi boss had to say.
Let's start with the opposition. What qualities do Slovan Bratislava have that could cause problems for Roma?
“They're a dynamic side, a very fit team, with some excellent players. Obviously they're not among the top-tier sides in the Champions League, but every Champions League match is tough. We certainly won't be underestimating them. We need to win to boost our chances of progressing.”
Now that Santiago Castro and Donyell Malen are both available, could they play together in a match like this? Also to stop the Argentine striker feeling frustrated, given his form.
“There's no need for anyone to feel frustrated because Castro scored a brilliant goal the other night. Considering their attributes, this could be a match where they can play together, possibly from the start or possibly later on in the game. I certainly don't want to upset the balance or the tactics of a team that's scoring goals and creating lots of chances just for the sake of seeing two players play together. Our attacking line-up is doing well, with different qualities, and it's fine as it is for now. I don't need to look for other solutions. It could happen though because this is the sort of match that might be suitable for it.”
Could Lorenzo Pellegrini drop back into midfield? Or could Mario Hermoso play there in an emergency, as we saw during the summer?
“That was an emergency situation. We didn't have Lorenzo with us then, so we had even fewer options. We didn't have [Marten] De Roon either, so it was even more of an emergency. I really hope Hermoso can stay where he is and it's not something we need to do. At the moment [Niccolo] Pisilli and De Roon – and De Roon especially – are playing. He played three matches in a week. Lorenzo can play in a more attacking role – as he's always been used – or he can play in midfield while we wait to get at least one player back, like [Bryan] Cristante, whom we hope to have on the pitch against Napoli, or at least have available.”
Do you have a points target in mind for qualifying for the play-offs? And can you give us an update on Paulo Dybala?
“In recent years it's always been around 10 or 11 points. To get them, we need to win our home matches, starting with tomorrow's game. That might be enough. We also have a chance [to pick up points] away from home, although they're all tough games. The aim is certainly to get around that figure.
“As for Dybala, we were hoping he would recover a bit more quickly but the MRI scan he had yesterday showed there's a very minor injury, so it's going to take a bit longer – a couple of weeks more, I think.”
Are you happy with the way your players bounced back against Genoa?
“I never had any doubts about the players we had. It's just a numbers problem because we have such a packed fixture list. I've always had the utmost confidence in the lads we have here, every single one of them. In fact, the other night, in addition to those who were absent through injury or suspension, I left out a few other players and gave a chance to others who had played a bit less, convinced we could still get the result. But getting a result is always difficult. Winning matches in Serie A is always difficult.”
What's impressed you most about Emanuele Lulli?
“I actually noticed him last year and I often included him in our first-team training sessions. He has some top-notch athletic qualities. It always catches your eye when you see someone with above average attributes. His speed and ability to sustain that pace have always been above your average footballer's, even compared to Serie A players. He's a very humble lad who's really keen to develop and improve. He's working hard on the technical and tactical aspects. He's very young and has loads of things he can hone and improve, but he also has several qualities that are definitely above average. When you come across players like that, you have to nurture them.”
How are Rodrigo Mora and Pierluigi Gollini coming along at Roma?
“Gollini has always been an excellent goalkeeper. Eight or nine years ago we had some great seasons together and reached the Champions League. He played in the Champions League with us too. Perhaps at that stage of his career he understandably lacked a bit of maturity, which he probably has now that he's a bit older. That sometimes happens with young players. He's always had superb natural ability, but perhaps he didn't have the same dedication and desire to improve that he has now. He's proving he's a good goalkeeper once again.
“Mora has worked incredibly hard. He's not a player who gets rotated in – he's part of the rotation. Whenever he's been available, he's always played. Physically he's still quite slight but he's also very young. His talent is clear. We need to help him develop. Unlike some others, he still needs to grow a bit and bulk up, because his technical ability is already of the highest level.”
.
..
