Roma coach Paulo Fonseca discussed tomorrow’s Derby della Capitale against Lazio when speaking to gathered reporters in a press conference earlier today. His words were collected by Italian media outlet La Lazio Siamo Noi.
First, he touched on if he is happy with the medium-long term project and the words of general director Tiago Pinto.
I saw the conference, he explained this medium-long term project. But he also talked about ambition, it’s important to have ambition at all times.
We’re all working together to be a team that always wants to win. And this is the most important thing for me.
He spoke about if the group will be reconfirmed in the derby tomorrow.
We’ll find out tomorrow!
The Portuguese coach commented on what a derby means to him and if he regrets not winning.
But I didn’t lose it either. A derby is an important game for everyone, but it’s only three points we’re playing for. We want to win to get them.
Fonseca discussed the team’s mental growth process.
Against Inter we played the last few minutes with great intensity, we don’t have any physical problems. It’s complicated even for the big teams to play 90 minutes at a high tempo, we’re working to be more balanced.
We didn’t have a good 15 minutes, I showed the players what we have to do, I think they understood. We want to have more consistency.
The 47-year-old coach spoke about if the team were thinking about winning the league title.
The ambition must always be there, we must play every game with the desire to win, this can never be lacking.
He refused to give more details regarding his formation in tomorrow’s game.
I’ll find out tomorrow, I’ve already said that. We’re playing a different formation to before. We know the importance of Luis Alberto and Milinkovic, they have a lot of strong players.
Mainly in attack. We’ve worked with a strong collective in mind but also with the individuality that Lazio have.
Fonseca spoke about the lack of fans inside the Stadio Olimpico.
It’s never an advantage. I think everyone would prefer to play with an audience. Empty stadiums are the worst thing at the moment, we all want the spectators to come back.
The Roma coach discussed the team’s quality drop in the second half of games.
We have to analyse every game. Sometimes we’ve had a problem in our heads, we’ve had difficulty reacting after complicated moments, but we’re working to be more balanced for the whole 90 minutes.
He had no issues regarding his squad choices.
I don’t have any doubts.
The 47-year-old Portuguese coach highlighted some of the Biancocelesti’s strengths.
Lazio are very strong when they recover the ball, they come out quickly on the counter-attack. We’ve worked and prepared for the game.
He touched on the physical condition of 33-year-old Spaniard Pedro.
He’s fine, he’ll be called up.
Finally, Fonseca spoke about an attribute that cannot be missing.
Aggressiveness, without a doubt.
MORE: Lazio Coach Simone Inzaghi: “Unusual Derby Against Roma Without the Fans”
MORE: Lazio Forward Joaquin Correa Trained With the Squad Today, On Bench for Derby
MORE: Mayor of Rome Raggi: “I Hope Lazio & Roma Both Win a Scudetto Each in Next 10 Years”
