Fabio Vieira also spoke at the press conference: “We need a strong Porto tomorrow, we have a plan that we will try to follow to the letter: no two matches are the same, tomorrow’s match will be completely different.”

Tomorrow, Roma will host Porto in a match valid for the return of the Europa League playoffs. Martin Anselmi and Fabio Vieira spoke at the press conference on the eve of the match. Here are their words.

ANSELMI AT THE PRESS CONFERENCE

How do you see this decisive match? Could scoring first be beneficial? “Scoring first is always important, it would be ideal. “Our opponents are formidable, boasting talented players and individuals – a team capable of dominating every match. The opening minutes will be intensely charged, they’ll drive us towards our goal, but we have trained hard and I hope that things will go according to plan.”

Porto only scores in the second half. “I don’t have an explanation for this; we want to score in the first half. However, sometimes in our matches and in any other, as we have seen in the Champions League, the legs have less energy in the second half and there are more spaces. With a very high press and the need to run the full length of the field, the second half becomes more complicated and the games end up opening up. Against the low blocks, some teams manage to hold out longer and set pieces can be vital. Then there are the circumstantial factors. “We deserved to take the lead against Rio Ave at halftime, while against Roma, we had the best opportunities in the first half. The matches unfolded in this way.” Does Francisco Moura feel that he is physically growing and doing what is asked of him? “Our style of play heavily involves the full-backs, who have a significant role. They have to go back and forth, be able to attack with the same intensity with which they defend, and share a side of the field with two players. We need players with the ability to replicate their exertions and join the attack. Francisco was involved twice against Roma and on one occasion, he was rewarded. We have a left winger who also ends up scoring many goals; it seems tailor-made. But Moura has this ability, just like João Mário on the other side. Both Zaidu and Martim Fernandes, once they recover, have this ability, just like Moura.”

You joined in the middle of the season without the opportunity to compete for all the trophies. At this stage, is it the Europa League where you can show immediate results? “In the league, there is still much to be played and we still have the opportunity to show results. In these tournaments, every match is decisive and we’ve come to Rome with ambition and desire to win. “We didn’t come here just to see what would happen.”

Where can Pepê do more? “We envisioned Farense with a low block, where our wingers could have a more offensive tendency and end up playing more like wingers than fullbacks. I know that Pepê has played as a central figure here. João Mário needed to rest to arrive at this match in better condition, so we thought that Pepê was the best choice. However, I struggle to picture him playing there, instead sitting in the heart of the action where he exhibits his ability to receive the ball and vanquish his rivals. After all, the team always comes before any individual, and he ends up playing a position that diverges from the one I envision for him.

No net from the attackers. “The important thing is that the team scores. We are determined to win, and for that, we need goals – regardless of who’s scoring them. My experience has demonstrated numerous situations whereby a striker spends half the season without scoring a goal, and in the second half, emerges as the top scorer of the team or even the league. I have full confidence in the ability, class, and quality of my attackers. The fact they are not scoring could be due to various factors. These are phases that, from one moment to the next, are concluded and all of a sudden all the opportunities that previously were not coming in begin to arrive.

What needs to be corrected? How would you comment on Ranieri’s statements? “There are things to be corrected, and I don’t know if that’s the right word; there are also things to change, because if we did exactly what we did in the first match, we wouldn’t have any advantage. In this vein, I appreciate these kinds of matches, as alterations can be made during the second game. As for the statements, I haven’t read them and prefer not to comment on them, because they are out of context. He’s a supremely experienced coach who knows exactly what he’s talking about, and can create an environment where pressure can be applied and certain decisions influenced. All I want is justice. “I do not want us to be given anything. As long as the referee is fair, everything is fine. I do not want our opponents to be shown a red card, or a penalty given in our favor.” “Do you believe that Ranieri truly believes in what he said about the balance of the game?” “On one hand, all of Roma’s history and the impact of playing in front of their fans, with great quality, against Porto with all its history, its fans, and its quality. So I would say 50-50.” “We are no longer competing in all tournaments, we no longer have the Portuguese Cup, nor the League Cup. There are still many matches left in the championship, we still have the possibility to showcase results. Here in UEFA Europa League, the competition is now in knock-out, one advances and the other stays behind. We are here eager to make it to the next stage. “We did not come to Rome just to see what is happening, we came to make a change”.

VIEIRA IN PRESS CONFERENCE

How to progress through the round. “We have begun preparing for this match in the best possible way. The format of the competition is different from what we’re accustomed to, but there are two knockout games on the line.” Our chance is tomorrow and that’s what we aim to do: advance to the next round.”