Juric’s first Roma press conference: “We need to bring everything together”

Here is what he had to say...

The ownership wants Champions League football. What’s your technical analysis of the team and which changes will you make?

"I think that especially last year, under Daniele [De Rossi], the team showed that it can battle with anyone and played really good football. In the eight or nine months under Daniele, we saw so many footballing concepts that I like: playing with a back three and being aggressive. There’s a lot we can take from that. Now we need to try to bring everything together, by being aggressive and keeping possession well.”

What sort of game will it be? It’ll certainly be tough. How do you see it going?

"Udinese have shifted their mentality in the first four games. They’re doing really well and are playing attractive football with players who showed glimpses of their physical and technical ability in the past, but who are now performing well.

"I see Udinese as one of the strongest sides in Serie A right now. It’ll be a really tough game. They’re delivering brilliant performances and have a lot of points on the board. They’re scoring all sorts of goals and are showing impressive physicality.”

Is your style of play suited to the squad you have at your disposal? Or will you have to rethink some concepts due to the characteristics of certain players?

"As I mentioned earlier, from what I saw last year, particularly during the first phase under Daniele, which lasted a good while, I saw a very aggressive Roma and it seemed to me that the players were capable of that. We need to pick up from there because, more than physical strength or running, believe me, it’s about positioning and understanding. Even at Torino, there were players who maybe weren’t well suited based their characteristics, but they did very well due to their intelligence and the positions they took up.

"In the past few days, I’ve noticed that it’ll definitely take a bit of time for this, but the team can do it. They can press high and deal with certain situations. Maybe not for the entire match right away, but in phases. I do believe that this characteristic, which I like a lot and I think everyone does, will remain in place.”

You accepted a short-term contract. After over 200 matches in the dugout in Serie A, is this the big opportunity of your career?

"I think every opportunity is important. I’ve been working for 14 years now across youth football, Serie C, Serie B and Serie A. Of course, Roma is the biggest club I’ve coached and there’s no denying that it’s a great opportunity.

"When chances like this come along, you don’t think about contracts or anything else. You have to prove that you’re capable of leading a great team. That’s my perspective. Looking at the squad, I think we can do well.”

Have you spoken to the ownership? And what have they asked you to achieve during these 8 months as Roma manager?

"The ownership has been very clear and very direct. In my opinion, they’re going through a structural change, meaning the squad is becoming much younger. They’ve brought in young players to develop and nurture. There’s a solid core of experienced players, a good mix, and a lot of work to be done. They’ve asked for results and player development, raising the overall level of the squad.”

Is there a specific goal?

"Yes, the goal for Roma, for the club as a whole, is to qualify for the Champions League and stay there for a long time.”

What have you made of Roma’s first four league performances?

"There have been good things and bad things. In the same matches, we could see positive moments, when the team was playing good football and moments when that wasn’t the case. It’s certainly not to be thrown away. I think that, in general, Daniele did a great job and that also applies to the organisation and conduct of the players, who are used to working very hard. The team is in excellent shape physically.

"I’d certainly like to introduce what I mentioned earlier based on what I’ve seen in the past and I do think we can do that.”

How have you found the team to be mentally?

"When managers lose their job, results are always something to do with it, as Daniele also said when he took over. You don't get results and you risk being fired – that's how it is. And it happened here too.

"My feeling is that the team gave everything for Daniele. Sometimes you take over and you get a sense of problems around the place. I didn't perceive that here. The team had given everything they had for the coach. There were no problems, there was no issue. I think the only reason was the results, as for all coaches in the world.

Roma have a fantastic player: Paulo Dybala. How do you see him fitting into your tactical plan?

"I have also seen the previous four games. Paulo is intelligent and he does a great job defensively, too – he is always well positioned. We all know his qualities. I'd like to play him as a right-sided forward, so he can come in onto his left foot.

"In recent days, I've seen that he does both phases very well. It's clear that he doesn't have to make 100-metre sprints. However, he does the defensive work very carefully. I don't see any problems on that side of the game. And in attack, if he is fit, even these days you see a player of great quality.

Since Dybala and Matías Soulé have played one game out of four together, can they play together with Artem Dovbyk or that just an in-game option?

"They can play together. I think Dybala didn't play because of what was going on with him. Absolutely yes, they can both play together, no problem."

How have you found Roma's defence to be, in general? And among the three, could Mario Hermoso start?

"The defence is well structured. Some of them are also used to playing in a three. For Hermoso, playing on the left of a three is the position he is used to – he has played there a lot. He and [Mats] Hummels have done very well in training, they are not yet at top fitness, but they will have chances in these three games.

"As I said before, in defence sometimes we talk a lot about physicality, but take Rodriguez, who with no physicality performed for three years at a very high level thanks to his intelligence. It is very important to have physicality, to win tackles, but it is equally important to be intelligent, to find positions, to know how to intervene at the right moment, to know how to move. And sometimes players even with less physical strength are able to interpret the role very well."

Do you expect Nicola Zalewski in the squad in the coming days?

"I think things are working out in the right way. He's a player I like. He has started training with the team and he's going in the right direction.

"In my opinion, he can be really important for the how the whole season unfolds."