Ivan Juric did not deny the fact that he and some of his Roma players have been involved in dressing room confrontations during and after their recent 5-1 Serie A loss to Fiorentina, but the Giallorossi coach encouraged his players to respond with fire in their bellies.
Juric is under mounting pressure at the Stadio Olimpico, particularly after the thumping defeat by Fiorentina over the weekend, but he will remain in charge for the Torino game on Thursday, even if a loss could spell the end of his time in the capital.
Juric admits to ‘heavy’ dressing room arguments at Roma
The Giallorossi coach admitted during his pre-match press conference on Wednesday that there have been ‘heavy’ arguments since the Fiorentina loss.
He hopes, however, that the players have now said what they needed to say, and that the whole squad and staff can now move forwards more productively.
“There have been arguments on some days, heavy ones. But sometimes things are better after that happens. It’s better that happens now than it come out later down the line,” he told the press.
“Now we are beginning to steady the ship and have a clearer level of thought of what we have to do as a team and what I have to do as a coach. So in that sense, I see it as a positive.
“My character and my way makes me feel that this is the right thing. We start again in a great way, and yesterday I saw a team full of conviction. As I’ve said, it’s better this way than losing 1-0 and continuing to piddle along. It’s an important moment for everyone.”
Roma will host Torino at the Stadio Olimpico on Thursday evening, kicking off at 19.45 GMT.
Juric: ‘I’m not thinking about being sacked, whatever happens, happens’