Roma manager Eusebio Di Francesco spoke to Roma TV today ahead of tomorrow’s Coppa Italia clash in Firenze against Fiorentina. These are his words:
Will the disqualifications of Cristante and Nzonzi (for Milan) influence your choices against Fiorentina?
Cristante and Nzonzi have played with greater continuity and therefore have a better condition, so I will try to exploit them as much as I can for this match, especially knowing Pellegrini has had some issues. We have to evaluate these things too, but Fiorentina is on my mind right now — not Milan.
Do you expect a match with many goals?
We thought we finally found balance in defence but these past two matches made us realise we have a lot more work to do — even from a mental point of view in terms of our attentiveness. Defenders must always have a bit of a negative mindset in the sense that something can happen at any given moment. Sometimes we’re a bit too distracted for a team that aspires to finish in a Champions League place.
Fiorentina has found enthusiasm with Muriel: is it simply because of the introduction of the player or has something changed tactically?
At a tactical level, they have changed very little because they play the same way but Muriel is a player who ignites the enthusiasm with his play, I had him at the start of his career at Lecce and he has great potential. He’s extraordinary, but I hope he is not tomorrow.
Roma have to try and grab hold of the Coppa Italia?
All competitions are important and we care a lot about this one especially because it’s become a fierce tournament where each club wants to try and progress, we’ll try to go to the semi-finals knowing we’re going to play away from home in front of the Viola supporters.
