Fonseca: Dzeko is available, it'll be a great game

Friday's game at the Giuseppe Meazza gets underway at 20:45 local time - with both sides going into the contest having won five of their last six matches in Serie A.

Inter currently sit top of the standings, while the Giallorossi have climbed up into the top five.

Read everything the boss had to say about the contest...

How is Edin Dzeko? Is he ready to play?

“He’d not trained for a few days but he trained with us today and he’s ready to play. But I don’t want to say anything else about the team that will play.”

What worries you the most about Antonio Conte’s team, who currently sit top of the table?

“Conte is a fantastic coach. Inter are in great form and have a clearly defined playing style. It will be a very difficult game.”

Can you give us an update on the fitness of Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Diego Perotti and Justin Kluivert?

“Mkhitaryan and Perotti are both in good physical condition. The tests on Kluivert came back clear but he’s still feeling some pain so he won’t play.”

Can Davide Santon manage a third consecutive game?

“He’s produced two very good performances in consecutive games. I have Santon, [Leonardo] Spinazzola and [Alessandro] Florenzi in that position. One of them will play.”

Will you struggle to play against Inter’s back three?

“There are lots of difficulties. Inter are strong in every aspect of the game. They build the play with three central defenders and they have a really interesting dynamic – they’re very good. We’ve played against teams that use a back three many times, so it won’t be anything new for us.”

Do you think there’s a chance for you to get yourselves into the hunt for the higher positions?

“The only thing I’m focusing on is playing tomorrow’s game against a very good side. I’ll say one thing: I’m focusing solely on our game against Inter tomorrow. I don’t want to hear about what’s happening in other games – I just want to concentrate on ours.”

You’ve been winning a lot of plaudits recently, particularly for the way you’ve been able to adapt the side to different situations. Is tomorrow going to be a big test for you?

“These are the games we want to play in. I think it’s a big chance for us to confirm that we’re in good form. It’s a good opportunity for us. We're up against one of the best teams in Italy, at a great stadium with lots of fans, but it’s not a special game for me.”

Is Dzeko ready to play or will you wait until tomorrow to see how he is?

“I’ve already answered that. So this time I’ll say Dzeko won’t play!”

Is Florenzi an alternative to Kluivert?

“Yes, he is.”

Do you feel you need to thank Conte, who had been linked to Roma, for enabling you to have this opportunity?

“I don’t speak about other coaches. I’m the coach of Roma right now and that’s an honour for me.”

What do you need to do to deal with Inter’s two strikers, who like to link up a lot going forward?

“Show bravery. We’re prepared for the game very carefully. Inter have two very good forwards. We need to show discipline in defence. We’ve prepared several situations we think are suitable for Inter’s game.”

What’s your opinion on the “Black Friday” headline in Il Corriere dello Sport?

“I don’t think it's a good choice of words. We need to think when we talk about issues relating to racism at the moment: we need to be more careful. I don’t think there was any negative intention behind it, but for me it’s not a good choice of words.”

What kind of bond do you have with the fans?

“They’re the best – they’re fantastic. We have lots of fans that always stick behind the team. I really like the support they give us.”

What do you make of Cengiz Under’s form at the moment?

“He needs to improve. He didn’t have a great game against Verona. He needs to develop. He’s been injured, but he needs to improve tactically, particularly when we’re defending.”