Fonseca: Team determined to make statement on Sunday

Sunday's Serie A meeting with AC Milan at the Stadio Olimpico gets underway at 20:45 CET.

Against Benevento you decided to play Leonardo Spinazzola at centre-back and have Bruno Peres on the left, changing the roles of both players. Will you do that again for this match – or do you think having another centre-back would release Spinazzola to play his normal way?

“We will see tomorrow, but I can say that Spinazzola will play on the left.”

Could Stephan El Shaarawy play as the team’s main striker?

“In the last press conference you asked me if El Shaarawy could play wing-back! Now it’s as a striker. I have to say that we have not yet tried him as a central striker, but if we needed to I think he could do it.”

Who has had the better season, Henrikh Mkhitaryan or Zlatan Ibrahimovic?

“I think they are both great players. Micki has been decisive for us and Ibra has for Milan.”

What effect does it have to see the club give up on the Tor di Valle stadium project? And do you have confidence that, with the Friedkins, Roma will have their stadium eventually?

“I am the coach of the team, that’s not a question I can answer. What I can see is that the Chairman has a great desire to build a stadium, for both the city and the fans.”

There have been rumours that Benfica are interesting in you – does that please you?

“I am focused on Roma and the present, I don’t think about the future.”

Are you concerned that your players will go out there tomorrow worrying about the fact they have not been able to beat the big teams?

“No. From what I’ve seen my players have a real desire to have a great game.”

How is Chris Smalling’s recovery going and will he be back to face Fiorentina?

“Smalling is doing better, he’s currently training on his own. I think he could rejoin the first-team training sessions next week.”

How can you prepare yourself against a side that has the best away record in Serie A?

“Milan are having a great season. It’s true that recent results have not been as good, but results are not the same as performances. If we look at the game against Inter, Milan played well and had their chances. The performances from the Rossoneri have not changed: they have continued to be a great side, doing well.”

Against Braga we saw Cristante, Diawara, Villar and Veretout work together to help reinforce things defensively. Is that a setup we could see you use again against strong sides like Milan, who are good at winning the ball high up the pitch?

“We have our playing style and that doesn’t changed based on the results. We may be playing against Milan, but we won’t change our overarching approach and identity. Both against the big sides and the ‘smaller’ sides that like to press high up, we still want to build from the back and that won’t change because of a specific opponent.”

How is Marash Kumbulla doing?

“He’s trained over the last few days, so he’ll be in the squad.”

What is your assessment of the opposition?

“As I said, I don’t believe Milan are in any sort of crisis. They are a very good side, aggressive, that create a lot of opportunities to score goals. It’s true that some of their recent results have not been what many expected, but tomorrow we are going up against a side that will be looking to win.”