Press Conference: Fonseca weighing up Mkhitaryan selection

The Stadio Olimpico is the venue for the behind-closed doors game, with kick-off at 21:15 local time.

Here's what Fonseca had to say going into the contest...

If you think back to the first meeting with Udinese, winning 4-0 after scoring three goals while a man down, it’s hard to understand the team’s regression since in 2020. What has stopped working since that game?

“You are talking about two different periods. The ambition has to be the same compared to what we showed in that game in Udine. I understand that we need to focus getting on results right now – but compared to the start of the season the team has grown.

“I did not expect the result we had against Milan, because we prepared well for the game. You can see that there is an identity, we are improving in the way we play – but it’s clear that the results need to be better too.

“However, now is not the time to make assessments, we need to focus on the next game. Anyone who thinks our season is over is wrong. We still have 10 games to play and we need to take things game-by-game, with the aim of winning each of them. Tomorrow the team will go out there with the right attitude and desire to win.”

You will be without Jordan Veretout and Lorenzo Pellegrini, who are suspended. Bryan Cristante and Amadou Diawara have not excelled, so is now the moment for Gonzalo Villar? And when will Nicolo Zaniolo be back in the squad?

“Zaniolo has only trained with us for two days. It’s still a process, he’s not ready to be in the matchday squad just yet. Villar is ready, but we will see tomorrow.”

At an organisational level, what would it mean for Roma if the club had to play in the Europa League qualifying rounds?

“As I said, now is not the time to make assessments – we just have to focus on each game. The future is tomorrow; anyone who thinks our season is over is wrong. We have to keep pushing with the same hunger.”

Why has Cengiz Under been largely left out in the first two games?

“Because of the way the games were going and the fitness of the player. It’s a matter of making decisions – but during the current period we need every player and all of them can play.”

You’ve said that the team has been training well, but in the last two games the physical fitness seemed to be lacking a bit. What’s happening?

“I’ll say it again, the players have always trained well throughout this period. We can think about lots of things but Milan had played three games, with more time to recover and more of the same players. We were playing in our second game and we had to make changes.

“[Davide] Zappacosta came back after seven months, [Gianluca] Mancini was playing in his first game, [Bryan] Cristante and [Justin] Kluivert were starting their first games. It’s not a question of fitness, but of rhythm. If we want them to be ready, they need to play during this period of so many games.”

With the Champions League places seeming out of reach, will it be difficult to keep the players focused? Would fifth place be a disappointment?

“What matters is tomorrow’s game, and then the one on Sunday against Napoli. We are not thinking about what might or might not happen – we will stay focused on the here and now, with confidence and desire to win.”

Could a few of the tactical difficulties seen in defence be solved by moving to a three-man system? Is that a change you are considering?

“We haven’t had tactical issues in the last two games. I must add something else: if you watch our games closely, we almost always start the play from a three without ever having an issue with the cover marking subsequently.

“If there is a moment in the game when the other sides have never created anything, then it’s that. The covering defence is one of the things we have done best over these two games. The goal against Sampdoria is not a result of bad cover defence, and neither was it for the two goals in Milan.”

Do you think you will be able to count on Chris Smalling for the Europa League as well, or is the fact Manchester United are also in the competition going to make that difficult?

“As far as Smalling goes I am only thinking about tomorrow. He is ready and will play.”

Mkhitaryan has started both the games so far. Could he be used in Pellegrini’s place – or are you thinking about a change in shape?

“I have to admit that is a doubt I have for this game. It’s not easy to play three games in a row, but we will see tomorrow. I have this doubt for the game tomorrow, whether Micki will play or not. We can’t forget there is the game against Napoli afterwards as well.”

Do you believe there is a correlation between the physical fitness of the individual and the results in a team sport like football?

“When you don’t win you can talk about anything. I understand this, but from what I’ve seen from almost every game played since the restart is that there is not the same intensity as there was in the first part of the campaign. I think that’s fairly normal, the key thing is to stay fit to be able to react during the games.”

How can you get back to playing the way you did in the first meeting?

“By working hard – I believe that tomorrow the side will play like they did in the first game. I’m very confident it will be a good performance.”

How is Pau Lopez? Is he ready to return?

“He is training with us but he’s not ready for tomorrow’s match. Antonio Mirante will start, and he’s had two good games for us.”