Rudi Garcia had to “hold my players back” rather than fire them up ahead of the Rome Derby with Lazio.
It kicks off on Sunday at 14.00 GMT, click here for a match preview.
“We will do everything to win this game, but it will be worth three points and nothing more,” insisted the Coach in his Press conference.
Just one point behind leaders Juventus, who travel to Napoli in the evening match, Roma could leapfrog their rivals for the first time this season.
Rudi Garcia had to “hold my players back” rather than fire them up ahead of the Rome Derby with Lazio.
It kicks off on Sunday at 14.00 GMT, click here for a match preview.
“We will do everything to win this game, but it will be worth three points and nothing more,” insisted the Coach in his Press conference.
Just one point behind leaders Juventus, who travel to Napoli in the evening match, Roma could leapfrog their rivals for the first time this season.
“We want to be top of the table after this game. I don’t know if it’ll be for a few hours or for a week, but our objective is to win. We mustn’t just focus on the derby, as this is a season with 38 games to play.”
The pressure of being favourites has often weighed on teams in the Derby della Capitale and it’s something Garcia is aware of.
“Roma have the opportunity to become Serie A leaders and that really fires us up. In training I had to hold my players back. We must pour all our intensity out tomorrow afternoon and not before. I have very experienced players who are eager to win.
“We must stop considering the derby to be a season target in and of itself. Our objectives are far higher than that. These two games give six points per season and nothing more. Of course we’ll do everything to win, but we’ll do the same next week and the week after.
“It’s a very exciting round with first against fourth and second against third. We do this job in order to play in this type of game.
“Lazio are a good side, aggressive and with excellent players. They give away more free kicks than any other club, but score goals and have quality. We must impose our football on them and nothing more.”
Senad Lulic is suspended, something that Garcia believes Lazio will have difficulty with.
“There are in my view two ways to see this game. Either Lazio have to change system or keep it going even without Lulic. They can either go defensive or attacking. I prefer the second option.
“It is also true that using many attacking players leaves the defence exposed and if that is the case, we must take advantage of it. Like you, we don’t know anything about Lazio’s line-up until tomorrow afternoon.”
Garcia was also asked about the controversy following Roma’s 1-0 victory at Udinese, decided by a goal that might not have entirely crossed the line.
“I don’t want to waste time on puerile things. I want to talk about football.”