Paredes fit and refreshed ahead of crucial season run-in

See what the Argentine had to say below...

Did the international break come at the right time for Roma?

“Yeah, I think we really needed it. It was absolutely vital that we beat Sassuolo after getting knocked out by Lyon. After that, I think a rest was the best thing for all of us.”

It’s flat out from now until the end of the season. What are you expecting?

“I’m expecting 100% from myself and the group. We will try to win every game we have left in order to finish as high as we can.”

Empoli visit the Olimpico this weekend. How would you sum up your season there?

“It was great – I had a fantastic year at Empoli. It was a good group with a brilliant coach. I really enjoyed it so I have nothing but thanks for everyone at Empoli.”

Empoli’s current boss Giovanni Martusciello said this of you: 'Paredes makes the ball sing. Not many people read the game like he does.' What do you make of that?

“He believed in me from the start. I had a great season with him [when he was assistant to Marco Giampaolo]. He really helped me and I thank him for that. He’s a top coach and a great person.”

Luciano Spalletti knows Martusciello well too – he coached him! How has the boss been approaching the game?

“We’re preparing very thoroughly and working hard.”

Empoli have lost their last six games in a row. What risks are there in a match against a supposedly small team?

“There are lots of risks. They’re capable of pulling off the perfect performance against us. Our job is to stay calm and secure the result.”

Lukasz Skorupski was instrumental in securing a 0-0 draw for Empoli against Roma earlier in the season…

“We hope that’s not the case this time. It’s important for us to win the game.”

The second leg of the Coppa Italia semi-final will take place on 4 April. It’s going to be a big ask for Roma, with a two-goal deficit to overhaul.

“Yeah, it’s a tough one. We need to turn the derby around and we’re two goals down at the moment. We need to score two to get us back in the game. That said, we need to stay calm and focus on Empoli first – that’s a crucial game.”

It’s quite a similar situation to the Lyon tie. What do you need to do differently this time?

“We need to start the game the way we did against Lyon at home. I think we played very well in that match and it’s a shame that we got knocked out, but I think we got a bit of bad luck too. If we play like we did in the Europa League, we’ll definitely get the result we need.”

The Olimpico was full for that match – how important is the support of the fans?

“It’s really important when the fans are behind us. They give us a massive boost from the stands. I hope they continue to fill the stadium for the remaining games of the season.”

Roma were having a tough time of it before the break – what do you need to change and what can you learn from that tricky period?

“I think we need to concentrate on ourselves and focus on playing the game we know. If we do that – and if we give 100% – we will get results. Of course, we can’t repeat our second-half performance in Lyon.”