Luciano Spalletti said it’s “possible” Roma will play three at the back and must learn from the Juventus comeback mentality.
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“As I said in my presentation Press conference, in today’s European total football, a team has to be prepared to change attitude during a game,” noted the Coach.
Luciano Spalletti said it’s “possible” Roma will play three at the back and must learn from the Juventus comeback mentality.
It kicks off on Sunday at 19.45 GMT, click here for a match preview.
“As I said in my presentation Press conference, in today’s European total football, a team has to be prepared to change attitude during a game,” noted the Coach.
“There are some movements that come almost naturally to players, but what causes issues is the move from a four-man defence to three or five. Juve taught everyone that it’s important to have options.
“Over the week we worked on tactics and of course we have to take the characteristics of players into account.
“I see the same mentality as before, the lads are eager to work and play. While the debut against Verona was more of a frenetic reaction, an emotional one, now we go more into methodology, objectives and specific ideas of football.”
Juventus have won 10 Serie A games on the bounce, so is the result a foregone conclusion?
“Juve have done very well this season. As for us, if we have the idea of being able to win, we can probably achieve it. If we go out there with the idea of failure, then we will certainly fail.
“We have the quality and potential, our intention is to take the initiative and play the game against a Juve side going through an excellent period of form. They proved themselves to be a great club and not just a great team, as it takes more than players to overturn a situation like the one they had at the start of the campaign without all those figures around the team.
“Juve transferred the winning mentality and honour of wearing the club colours to the new players. It’s something we need to do as well at every level and we’re working on it. I see more responsibility and character of someone who is in our locker room and takes the Roma jersey around the world.”
Spalletti used three at the back in the final stages of the 1-1 draw with Verona and could not deny he was experimenting with it again this week.
“I’ve tested the three-man defence in training, we know people are watching us at all times! It’s fair to say I worked on it, but that’s because Roma already know how to play with four and therefore we had to work on the three more.
“Lucas Digne and Alessandro Florenzi are players you can move 10 metres further up if there are three at the back, not creating gaps behind them when they run forward.
“Antonio Rudiger is a very physical and rather irreverent player who sometimes needs to be held back, but he’s strong in the air and of great use when the intensity of the game rises.
“If we are going to mirror Juventus, we need to be beautiful in the mirror. We have to find our style of football and know how to develop it. So yes, it is possible we’ll start with a three-man defence tomorrow.
“I try to find balance in the team. We didn’t achieve that against Verona and did precisely what we weren’t supposed to, which was to allow these end-to-end moves and a very shaky boat.
“Against a side with less quality than us, we allowed them the opportunity to score a goal and get the result.
“Radja Nainggolan is capable of recovering balls and pushing forward, of being aggressive towards his opponent and creating the space over vast territories. He should therefore be allowed the freedom to roam a little, but then he is an all-round midfielder and that is what we ask of him.”
Juventus captain Gigi Buffon said this was their big chance to knock Roma out of the Scudetto race once and for all.
“Buffon was intelligent to say that and we see it the same way. This is our great opportunity to get back into the race.”
Edin Dzeko has struggled badly and become an object of abuse from the Giallorossi fans.
“Dzeko has everything it takes to be our Number 9. He just needs to wait for the moment, that spark, that goal that gives him confidence. It’s tough above all at Roma to help a player feel confidence when he doesn’t do his job or deliver results.
“At Roma the fans and media are starving for results and have no patience. He is a great player and I can find no fault with him. He’s pretty fast considering his size, he’s good in the air and has technique. We need to wait.”