Roma’s new head coach Ivan Juric is gearing up for his European debut as a manager, but his focus remains solely on the upcoming match against Athletic Bilbao. In a pre-match press conference, Juric emphasized his singular goal: “I’m only thinking about winning this game, hoping to give our fans something to cheer about by repeating Sunday’s performance against Udinese. We’re very focused, living day by day to improve. I’m not thinking about anything else.”
Juric expressed confidence in his squad’s depth and quality: “After a week in charge of this team, I can say I have a strong roster with substance and quality, capable of facing the league, Europa League, and later the Coppa Italia. I’m very satisfied and have many options at my disposal.”
The Croatian tactician hinted at some lineup changes, particularly praising newcomers Manu Koné and Matias Soulé. On Koné, Juric said, “Manu is a player I like; he has many qualities. Can he play both defensive and attacking roles? He can do everything, and I see him as a great prospect.” Regarding Soulé, he added, “I see him more as an attacking midfielder. He can also play wide but not across the entire flank. It’s been a big leap for him, and he’ll get his chance.”
Juric also commented on managing Paulo Dybala’s playing time and likened Angelino to Inter Milan’s Federico Dimarco: “We need to manage Paulo. He’s a fantastic player when fit, but we know he can’t play every game from now until the end of the season. Angelino can play as a full-back across the entire flank and reminds me a lot of Dimarco.”
Defender Mario Hermoso, set to make his starting debut at the Olimpico, expressed his belief in the team’s potential: “This Roma squad could already compete in the Champions League. It’s clear I came here thanks to De Rossi, and I’ll always be grateful for that. But another reason I came was the project, and this is a roster full of good players. However, we need to develop a certain mentality.”
Hermoso drew parallels between Roma and his former club Atletico Madrid: “This squad has great potential. We’ll need to get used to playing every two or three days and be demanding of ourselves to appreciate a competition like the Champions League. With Atletico, we often played in it, and you realize how special these nights are. The fan base is very similar, living these teams with great passion.”
The Spanish defender also shared insights on facing Athletic Bilbao, a team he’s encountered 14 times in his career: “I’ve played against them many times. I’ve been able to share my knowledge of their strengths and weaknesses with everyone here. But the talent of our midfield and attack can decide the game.”
