By: Marco De Marinis
AS Roma head into their crucial Serie A clash against ACF Fiorentina with a timely boost, as both Manu Koné and Paulo Dybala are fit and available.
“Kone has recovered, while Dybala had already made a full recovery last week and played for a part of the game,” the coach confirmed. “They have done even better these past few days, so they will both be available on Monday.”
The match comes at a decisive stage of the season, with Roma still fighting for their objectives and only four games remaining. The Giallorossi are fully aware of the challenge ahead, especially against a Fiorentina side in strong form. “On Monday night, we are playing a very important game against Fiorentina, a team who have had a positive streak lately,” he said. “They are a talented team… we are completely focused on this match.”
Despite increasing speculation about the club’s future, the message from within Roma remains clear: the present comes first. “There are two simultaneous fronts right now,” he explained. “There’s the league, where there is still much to do… Of course, there will also be talks about the future, but now is not the time for that.”
However, the presence of the ownership—represented by Dan Friedkin’s son Corbin—suggests that planning behind the scenes is already underway. “Corbin Friedkin’s presence is a clear sign: the owners are starting to work not only on the end of the season… but also on long-term planning.”
Roma’s campaign has not been without challenges, and the coach acknowledged that the club has had to adapt to unexpected circumstances. “The club has faced a great, unexpected disappointment, and consequently it had to take a path it had not initially anticipated,” he admitted. Still, he dismissed concerns that Roma are falling behind rivals in planning: “Clubs who start a bit late can recover within the expected timeframe.”
One of the defining features of Roma’s season has been the squad’s professionalism, despite uncertainty surrounding contracts and loan deals. “It wasn’t easy… with many players with expiring contracts and many on loan,” he said. “I am very grateful to the players… they have shown great professionalism and loyalty.”
That unity has helped Roma remain competitive, though there are still areas to improve—particularly in closing out matches. “In the final minutes we’ve been unable to pick up points as other teams… have been able to,” he noted. “This needs to be taken into account and we need to work on it.”
Looking beyond Serie A, the coach also reflected on the broader European landscape after watching Paris Saint-Germain take on Bayern Munich. “I had a lot of fun; I really enjoyed the match… that truly is top-level football,” he said, while acknowledging that Italian clubs are currently struggling in comparison. “We are not doing very well in European competitions… this must push us to react.”
Amid the challenges, there was also praise for the success of AS Roma Women, who recently secured the league title. “It was beautiful, it was great… we need to follow their example,” he said.
For now, though, all attention remains on the pitch. With key players back and the season reaching its climax, Roma’s immediate goal is clear: finish strong and keep their ambitions alive.
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