Roma Coach Rudi Garcia is hopeful that defender Kostas Manolas will be fit to face Napoli, while also discussing Mattia Destro.
Roma Coach Rudi Garcia is hopeful that defender Kostas Manolas will be fit to face Napoli, while also discussing Mattia Destro.
The Greek centre-back has been struggling with a knee injury, and reports have suggested that Daniele De Rossi may be asked to deputise at the back should he be unable to play.
“There’s a training session this afternoon, and we hope Manolas can play,” Garcia revealed in his Press conference ahead of the Napoli game.
“If he doesn’t play we won’t play with 10 men.
“I hope we can get players back from injury, we have three tough games coming up. After that we stop and players will go away for the international break.
“Only then will we know if we managed to negotiate this series of games.
“Right now we’re just focused on Napoli, and we hope not to have any more problems in defence. Whatever the case is, we’ll try and come back with as many points as possible.”
Garcia was the subject of veiled criticism from Giallorosso forward Mattia Destro, who appeared to fire a warning to the French Coach that he wants more first-team football.
“All I can say is that things which are said in the dressing room stay there,” Garcia responded.
“The Coach thinks of all the players. I’ve been a player, and a player thinks only of himself.
“To me, he [Destro] is no different to any of the others. There are many things which have to be taken into account, not just the profile of the player.
“It depends on the opponent and how we want to approach the game and I choose who to play based on these things, according to the attributes of the players.
“All our players are physically at the top of their game and play well together.
“As long as I have my seven strikers to choose from, my choices can be judged only in light of the final result.”