Roma Coach Fonseca: “We Have a Strategy to Stop Lazio’s Counter Attacks”

Roma coach Paulo Fonseca revealed that the Giallorossi have a plan to limit Lazio’s counter-attacks in tomorrow’s derby.

Speaking to gathered reporters in a press conference (via La Lazio Siamo Noi) earlier today, the 48-year-old Portuguese coach first touched on Roma’s 3-1 loss to Inter on Wednesday.

We know how Inter played against us. We didn’t play a game where we wanted to defend low, we wanted the initiative and that’s what happened. We created to have chances on goal. It’s a question of risk. We know that against Inter counter-attacks are deadly and here we made a mistake.

The team didn’t react well when they lost the ball. I think Inter didn’t create much, but when they did, they scored. This team doesn’t let us create many chances, but there’s a problem that when we make mistakes other teams score. We’ve played in two systems, the latter being riskier.

He then discussed tomorrow evening’s Derby della Capitale against Simone Inzaghi’s Lazio.

We have prepared for the match strategically in a different way compared to the first leg. We put pressure on the first moment of construction and in this the team was not very balanced in the first leg.

Today we’ve prepared it so we don’t let Lazio get out on the counter-attack. We have a strategy. We want to be a more balanced team. We know Lazio are dangerous on the counter-attack.

The Giallorossi coach touched on the team’s struggles this campaign.

Mainly it’s been a difficult season with injuries to important players. If we’d always had these players, we could have been in a different position.

He also confirmed that Roma would not use a three-man defense tomorrow.

No, we’ll play a back four.

Finally, Fonseca spoke about the emotions and feelings ahead of tomorrow’s derby.

The motivation is the same as in the first derby, the fact that we don’t have the fans changes things. I always say that experiencing these derbies is unique, it’s hard to explain.

Tomorrow we won’t have the fans, who are very important for us, but we want to have the same motivation.

I expect the team to be motivated. We haven’t had much time to recover, but it seems to me that the team is motivated.

Roma currently sit seventh in the Serie A table after 36 games with 58 points, nine behind sixth-place Lazio, who have a game in hand.

The Giallorossi are now fighting for a spot in next season’s UEFA Conference League, which requires a seventh-place finish. Sassuolo are only two points behind Fonseca’s side.

The Biancocelesti are still dreaming of a top-four finish, but with Napoli six points ahead in fourth, it seems like a tough ask now.


MORE: Lazio Veterans Parolo & Lulic to Play Their Final Derby Against Roma This Weekend

MORE: Strakosha Will Start One More Game for Lazio Ahead of Probable Summer Move

Tags Biancocelesti Derby Della Capitale Fonseca Italy Lazio Paulo Fonseca Roma Roma vs Lazio Serie A