Luciano Spalletti keeps Roma goalkeepers on their toes and wants players “to fill the game” against Porto in the Champions League play-off.
The first leg of the play-off is tomorrow evening at the Estadio do Dragao, kicking off at 19.45 UK time (18.45 GMT).
The second let will be at the Stadio Olimpico on August 23.
Alisson has arrived from Brazil to join Wojciech Szczesny, so will Spalletti rotate goalkeepers between Serie A and Europe like Barcelona?
Luciano Spalletti keeps Roma goalkeepers on their toes and wants players “to fill the game” against Porto in the Champions League play-off.
The first leg of the play-off is tomorrow evening at the Estadio do Dragao, kicking off at 19.45 UK time (18.45 GMT).
The second let will be at the Stadio Olimpico on August 23.
Alisson has arrived from Brazil to join Wojciech Szczesny, so will Spalletti rotate goalkeepers between Serie A and Europe like Barcelona?
“I don’t understand why other roles can be chosen depending on the game, but not the goalkeeper,” shrugged the Coach in his Press conference.
“I will choose each time who I see best suited for that match. I certainly won’t go around picking the line-up just to keep everyone happy.
“I can confirm Kevin Strootman will play tomorrow. As for the rest of the line-up, I haven’t told the lads yet, so I don’t want it splashed all over the Internet first.
“We have signed some strong players, lost others, and the important thing is they have a lot of experience in top leagues. This has given a boost in professionalism and experience for our locker room.
“When you have these qualities, the character comes as a consequence, otherwise you can’t stay in that room. We have a strong squad in all areas and we are ready for this important challenge.”
Spalletti was asked whether he would choose Edin Dzeko up front to help hold the ball up.
“I expect every player who starts to work hard and help keep the ball up. I want players who are in the game and fill the game. Too often in our evaluation of who to play, we look to a gesture – the goal – but in a match there are 55 minutes of effective football and 22 players on the pitch, a player touches the ball for around 90 seconds in total.
“For the other 88 and a half minutes, he has to work. Just touching it into the goal is not enough. Each player needs a lot of contributions in his rucksack and not just a goal. I therefore expect from Dzeko and indeed every player that they help the team and work for the squad.”
Over the summer several Italian clubs, most notably Napoli and Juventus, were interested in Porto midfielder Hector Herrera.
“I never tried to bring him to Roma and I don’t know if the club ever requested him, but he is a strong player. I have other players as strong as Herrera and wouldn’t swap them.”