Paulo Fonseca insists ‘this is not the time’ to judge Roma’s season, as they prepare for a fifth-place showdown with Napoli. ‘It’s normal to be angry when we don’t win.’
It kicks off on Sunday at 20.45 UK time (19.45 GMT), click here for a match preview.
The 2-0 home defeat to Udinese left them 15 points adrift of the Champions League places, now having to look over their shoulders at Napoli, Milan and Hellas Verona.
Paulo Fonseca insists ‘this is not the time’ to judge Roma’s season, as they prepare for a fifth-place showdown with Napoli. ‘It’s normal to be angry when we don’t win.’
It kicks off on Sunday at 20.45 UK time (19.45 GMT), click here for a match preview.
The 2-0 home defeat to Udinese left them 15 points adrift of the Champions League places, now having to look over their shoulders at Napoli, Milan and Hellas Verona.
“We judge the season once it has been completed and not before. We have nine games left, plus the Europa League, so this is not the time,” said the coach in his press conference.
“I always analyse our games and when we win, it’s not all perfect, just as when we lose, it’s not all terrible. We have to find solutions to specific problems.”
The squad rotation against Udinese proved disastrous, as the options simply do not hold a candle to the first choice XI.
“Clearly Edin Dzeko will start, while Henrikh Mkhitaryan is a strong option and we’ll see how Carles Perez is doing. I changed with other Roma players, not people who had never been on the pitch. I have faith in everyone in my squad.
“It’s normal to be angry when we don’t win, but I have never felt abandoned, as I know the club and President support me. I tell the fans we have to work and this is not the time to think it’s all over. It’s normal they’re not satisfied after these last two defeats, but we must play with determination for them.
“Napoli are very different to the side we faced under Carlo Ancelotti earlier this season, as they are playing very well, are hungry for victory and coming off this defeat to Atalanta.”