Spinazzola reflects on first half of Serie A campaign

One of Roma's most impressive performers, Spinazzola has seemingly put past injury concerns behind him to become a constant and consistent presence for Paulo Fonseca down the left flank - time and time again impressing with his ability to beat a man and make a difference at both ends of the pitch for the Giallorossi.

We sat down with the Italy international to reflect on every aspect of the season so far - and also find out what he credits his recent improvement in form and fitness too.

Starting from the beginning of the campaign, here's what Spinazzola had to say...

What was pre-season like this summer? Was it the shortest you’ve ever experienced, particularly because the Europa League meant the previous season finished so late?

“To be honest, it feels like it’s been one long season that’s lasted a full 12 months. The summer was like a short break, like the Christmas break. In my mind, the season began in June, not in September. We’ve been building on the work we did during lockdown and in the games in June and July.”

There was the disappointment of being knocked out by Sevilla. How keen were you to bounce back from that?

“We needed the time off to recharge our batteries, but that was a bad performance – we wanted to play the game differently. Mentally, we never really switched off, because we were back at it virtually straight away.”

The first match of the season was against Verona, with the game finishing 0-0. You very nearly scored a wonderful goal with six minutes left to play. What did you make of your start to the season?

“We showed our potential in that first game. Verona can change their entire starting eleven, but no matter what they’re always going to play with a specific system which gets the best out of their players. Anyone who comes in does well, and that goes for new signings too. They make you play badly – games against them are different from all others, same with Atalanta. Despite that, we could have scored two or three goals, never mind my shot that hit the crossbar.”

You followed that up with a 2-2 draw with Juventus. What do you remember of that game?

“I remember it as the one game in the whole first half of the season that we really threw away.”

Really?

“Yes. We had the three points in our grasp. We had control of the game and we wasted two or three great chances. We could have killed it off but we didn’t. The defence was well positioned when [Cristiano] Ronaldo had his header. I have plenty of regrets from that game.”

We got our first victories of the season away at Udinese and at home against Benevento. Was that when you realised what you could do as a team?

“No, because we were aware of that from June. We know we can do well. The more games you win, the more confidence you pick up, so those first two victories were definitely important. It was a very tough game against Udinese, but Pedro did the business for us with a great goal – that was how he introduced himself to the team! That’s what top players like him are for.

"Benevento are a very difficult team to face because they have a strong group, an identity… They always play the same way, regardless of who they’re facing, and they often do it very well – a bit like Spezia. Once upon a time you didn’t get that from newly promoted teams, but now you do.”

Next came a 3-3 draw away at AC Milan, with Marash Kumbulla scoring in the closing stages. Were you disappointed with the result or were you happy, seeing how the match went?

“That was a good point. The match hinged on key moments. It was an even game, but that was a case of one point gained, whereas against Juve it was a case of two points dropped.”

You really haven’t got over that Juve game yet!

“Yes, same with the Sassuolo match.”

Let’s go in order. You performed well against Genoa and Parma, but then you were beaten 4-0 by Napoli. Was that just a bad performance, or does the result not tell the whole story?

“We played well in the first 15 minutes and moved the ball nicely, but Napoli kept things very tight – it’s not easy to play against them. They set up with two banks of four, with [Andrea] Petagna pressing our playmaker. It’s not easy to play against a team that plays like that – if I’m not mistaken, they had the best defence in the league at the time, too.

"They scored from a free-kick and we went in 1-0 down at half time. Then there were a few things that went against us, but we need to make sure those don’t happen. That’s where we need to improve – we need to stay in games because if you’re 1-0 down with ten minutes to play, you can always end up scoring a great goal or finishing off a good move. That’s where we need to improve.”

Why were you disappointed after the Sassuolo match?

“The first half was very cagey. Refereeing decisions can go either way but we played better in the second half despite being a man down. We could have and should have won it because we were controlling the game.”

What about the 5-1 win over Bologna? Was that your best team performance of the season?

“It depends how the opposition play. If their full-back pushes up to mark our wing-back, it leaves lots of space to exploit in behind and that's what happened. Having said that, we did score some superb goals. We were 5-1 up at half time but I don't know if it was our best performance. The result would suggest so, but I don't think it was.”

Which one was then?

“I'm being repetitive here but we were really excellent against Juventus. It's just a shame about the result.”

After a good win over Torino, you were leading at half time in Bergamo – and could have been 2-0 up if that shot of yours hadn't hit the post...

“I should have scored that.”

Do you mean you shouldn't have chipped it?

“No, I should have chipped it but got it on target. I squandered the chance.”

What happened in the second half?

“Atalanta aren't easy to play against. I spent two years there and in the last half an hour we always had more than our opponents. It's the same now. In the first half we stayed compact and moved the ball around between the lines, which is not easy to do against them. Then in the second half they stepped up a gear and started playing.

"When [Josip] Ilicic and [Luis] Muriel came on it changed the game. That's another time when we should have stayed in the match. If you concede an equaliser, you have to keep it there, even if it means playing badly for a few minutes, and not get stretched. As I said, that's an area we need to work on.”

You ended 2020 with a win against Cagliari and started the new year with two more wins, against Samp and Crotone. Then you drew 2-2 with Inter in a game of two halves. Was that an example of a time where you managed to pick yourselves up and not make the same mistake as in Bergamo?

“It's different because Atalanta don't stop but Inter sat back after going 2-1 up. They let us play and we were able to create openings. Atalanta harry you man for man. Different games and different teams.”

Does the derby defeat still hurt?

“Of course it does.”

What happened?

“Moments decide matches but you have to make sure the moments go your way. If you go 2-0 down in the first 20 minutes, it becomes difficult because that's where they excel. They got 10 men behind the ball and doubled up on us all the time. We'd lose the ball and they'd break.

"They kill you then because it drains you mentally and physically. You think you're never going to find a way through, you can't see any openings and then you have to sprint back 60 yards to defend against players who are fast and good on the break. All it took was two moments but that's football for you.”

The league match against Spezia came after losing to them in the Coppa Italia. Was that group hug at the end emblematic of your unity?

“That's what we are: united. You can lose games, although no one likes to, not even in friendlies, and we're as angry as anyone, but one thing is certain: we haven't forgotten how good we are. That's important because it means we're all level-headed – which is especially important in Rome.

"After the derby we were third and some people starting saying the club should get rid of everyone. We're angry because we want to win every match and the derby especially. No one likes to lose but we're third.”

You set up Rick Karsdorp to make it 3-1 in that game, then crossed for Bruno Peres, who played in Lorenzo Pellegrini for the winner. Is that a key element to your game, switching play between the wing-backs, even inside the area?

“Yes, that's one of the good things about playing with a five-man line. It would be very hard to do it with a back four and the midfield would need to cover everything. In our system the wing-backs are like extra wingers: the three defenders and the holding midfielder have to keep everything tight at the back while we get to the byline and send the ball over to the far post.”

Talk us through that last goal. What did you think when you put your delivery in?

“It was a whirlwind of emotions in just a few seconds. When we conceded I thought 'It's over' but then as soon as we kicked off again I thought 'Let's do it now'. We made luck work in our favour on that occasion because Bryan [Cristante]'s pass took a deflection and the ball went to the byline but we turned it to our advantage.”

You're right-footed but play on the left. Does that hold you back or give you an advantage?

“I play on the left – that's my position. I see it as a good thing because I try to use my left as well. Going forward I'm like an inverted winger, as our forwards often play. I've been playing left wing-back for five years now and I'm comfortable there. I find it harder on the right. I'd have to get used to it and change my whole way of playing, starting with my body posture.”

You've been performing consistently well since the lockdown. What has changed?

“I think I started improving in January 2020. I played some good games before the lockdown too – the Genoa and Lazio games come to mind.”

So what changed at the start of last year?

“My mindset.”

Did it make that much of a difference?

“It always does. I also worked incredibly hard during the lockdown.”

Had you never trained like that before?

“Before my cruciate injury, I was a bit maverick: I trained the right amount and looked after myself when I needed but played at a 100 miles an hour. After my injury I started doing things differently because of my knee: I did more work in the gym. When I joined Roma I tried everything, even altering my diet, but it didn't change anything. And the reason, besides the fact that I was playing on the right, was my mindset.”

You use your change of pace to great effect in games, often catching opponents by surprise. Is that your greatest strength?

“I know some people are surprised by it but I've been doing it for four years. I played like that when we finished fourth with Atalanta, but perhaps I went unnoticed. Then I got injured and was out of the spotlight for a bit, but that's how I play.”

Which areas of your game can you improve?

“All of them.”