Roma manager Eusebio Di Francesco and midfielder Bryan Cristante spoke today ahead of tomorrow’s clash against Viktoria Plzen. These are their words:
DI FRANCESCO
How’re you handling the rumors about your future?
It’s part of football, if I’m here it is because there’s a manager fully aware of the situation despite results not going well. I believe in my work and in what we’re doing but we need to turn things around. We decided to have everyone stay at the training ground to work out the causes and find solutions.
How much will the Genoa match weigh on your choices?
I don’t have so many options to choose from tomorrow. A lot of the players will be the same ones who featured against Cagliari and who will also play against Genoa on Sunday. The only thing I’ll say is Mirante will start in goal instead of Olsen.
Which of the injured players could return tomorrow?
None of the players coming back from injury will start, except for perhaps Pastore. Perotti has had several injuries and it’s impossible for him to play the full 90 minutes. De Rossi has started running again and, while this Sunday is too soon, we hope to have him available for the game against Juventus. Lorenzo Pellegrini will need a bit more time. As for the others, Dzeko is ahead of El Shaarawy in his recovery.
CRISTANTE
What was the opinion about the ritiro?
These things happen. The ritiro helped us stay together. The only solution is to work, we have to prove it on the pitch.
You seem to be growing in these last few matches.
I’m working hard and I feel like I’m improving. It always takes a while to settle in but hard work brings results.
Is the impact of playing with Roma more difficult than you thought?
In football every season is unique, you never know what you’re going to get. The only certainty is having to work, sooner or later the results will arrive.
You made your debut here as a youngster. How have you changed?
I was merely a Primavera player, now I’ve evolved in every respect to the player I am now.
