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Here's what the boss had to say:
What are you most pleased with tonight? The 28 total shots, Mario Hermoso's goal, Leonardo Balerdi's display after what happened at Old Trafford, or Matias Soule's performance?
“We played really well at Old Trafford then unfortunately we had that moment. There were some excellent performances tonight. Hermoso's goal was superb – the way he controlled the ball and the way he struck it – and that broke the deadlock for us. It wasn't easy as Sassuolo sat very deep but we bided our time and played with quality.”
Your team bounces back immedately after a defeat, wouldn't you say?
“Yes, that's true. But there are defeats and there are defeats. In this incredible run of games – nine in 27 days – we've lost twice, to Real Madrid and Manchester United, but we've strung together lots of wins too. We drew with Como and Napoli and won all the others. Those two defeats hurt because we lost both at the end in the way we did, but they were against top teams.”
Your team kept believing in their football tonight without altering their style of play and scored three goals. How important is it to have that conviction?
“This year we've certainly improved our ability to score goals. At the moment we're scoring in different ways with different players. We've reached a level of real composure and confidence. Hermoso took his goal like a top striker but they all performed well. Soule was exceptional. In this period we're finding it easy to score goals and we've scored even when we've lost, like against Real and Man United. I don't think we need to produce any sort of 'response' because we're performing consistently. It can happen that you lose a game like the one in Manchester. Let's not forget that there was that unfortunate incident with Balerdi and the game turned after a ridiculous penalty. Let's say that too. They're not easy places to play at either. So it can happen.”
Let me ask you a straight question: Would you take second place now?
“No, I wouldn't. It's nice to play the season out. You should never be deluded or disappointed. You should neither get too carried away about things nor too beaten up, especially when you do as well as we're doing. I don't know what we can be capable of.”
You never shy away from aiming high. You're suggesting that Roma are setting out to win.
“I think Inter, as everyone rightly says, are the favourites. All the others can give it a go – that goes for us as it does for everyone else. Even Lazio. We can put Lazio in there. I think they've won nine of their ten games. So I think they're in the mix too. Plus all the others who are up there. I don't need to list them all. If Inter slip up a little, everyone else can be in with a chance.”
At the moment there's only one team ahead of Roma in the table. Will you watch Inter v Como? Which team will you be rooting for?
“No, we don't watch these games. We're not interested. We just wait and hope!”
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