It’ll be harder for Shakhtar if we score

- Roma strikers have got somewhat strange stats: they have scored only one goal in the last seven Serie A games - against Udinese in the 90+2 minute. Does it bother you or not?

- No, I'm not worried about such figures. Our attackers do their job well - they fulfil the tasks I set for them.

- Will Perez be able to take part in the match?

- Yes, he's in good shape. It’s likely that tomorrow I’ll deploy him.

- Do you remember the picture you received right before leaving Shakhtar? Tell us a bit about it. Would you like to meet the artist who created it?

- Yes, I remember this picture! It did not leave the border of Ukraine and stays at my apartment in Kyiv. Yes, of course, it would be nice and curious to meet the person who did it.

- Mister Castro told a little about your friendship. Is it also a meeting with a friend for you, and not just a match against Shakhtar?

- First of all, I want to say that tomorrow won’t see the match between Fonseca and Castro, but the match between our teams. Yes, of course, we are friends. Moreover, we even talked after the first game in Rome, we talked for some time. I am always worried about him when it concerns Shakhtar's performances in the Ukrainian league. But tomorrow, for all 90 minutes, we will be just opponents, and at that time there can be no talk about any friendly relations.

- Are you going to focus on defence tomorrow or do you want to beat Shakhtar for the second time?

- Of course, we would like to win tomorrow. I wouldn’t say that the defensive phase is more important for us than attacking. Those are components of equal importance for Roma. We are well aware of how much harder it will be for Shakhtar if we score. Accordingly, we will make every effort to score and make life as difficult for the opponents as possible.

- You have spent several wonderful years at Shakhtar. What are your three most exciting memories?

- I wouldn’t single out just three as there were many more such moments. I spent quite a long period of time here. Every time Shakhtar became the championы, won the Cup or the Super Cup, I was just positively overwhelmed with emotions. We won many times, so I can't mention just three things. There were many more.

- After 3-0 in the first match, will you try to claim a bloodless win taking into account the Italian league race?

- We achieved a good result in Rome, but I know the capabilities of this team, I know how Shakhtar players will fight on the field tomorrow to the last minute, what dedication they can have. Any sparing mode is out of the question. We need maximum concentration to achieve a positive result.

- Considering that you have an apartment in Kyiv and that you had three wonderful years at Shakhtar, can we say that in a sense you have returned home?

- Yes, that’s right. My wife is from Ukraine, my son is half-Ukrainian. I’m really attached to this country.

- Shakhtar are the team thanks to which you found your soul mate. In an interview for the Ukrainian press after the draw, Kateryna said that Shakhtar is more than just the favourite team for her. She grew up in Donetsk in an atmosphere of Shakhtar cult. Was she really upset with the first-leg outcome?

- I can confirm that Katya is a very loyal Shakhtar fan. But when I returned home after the first leg in Rome, she was very happy. And I think it's normal in this situation: to root for me, respectively, for Roma. At the same time, I want to say that we cheer for Shakhtar whenever there is such an opportunity. We watch the matches often. I wish Shakhtar every success in Ukrainian tournaments and any other competitions, but not where our paths cross.

- In winter, Roman Yaremchuk was widely reported to be likely to join Roma - the Italian, Belgian and Portuguese media wrote about that. They also mentioned your personal interest. Is it true? At what stage were the negotiations?

- I have to upset you: this is not true. There were no negotiations with my participation on it. But, of course, I know perfectly well what kind of footballer he is. I’m not surprised by this news. If we approach such things in this way, then one could write about any Shakhtar player who, theoretically, could become a part of Roma. I know that there were many pieces of such news, but this is not true.

- There was news about five Shakhtar players who could allegedly move to Roma. Is it possible after the first leg? And will you try to sign up Taison whose contract ends in the summer?

- I agree that Shakhtar have a lot of players who would be able to successfully play in the Italian league even now. I can confirm that earlier Roma really were interested in Taison. But today, at the moment, we have no interest in any Shakhtar player.

- Did you practise the penalty shootout?

- Yes, I can confirm that we pay great attention to practising spot-kicks.

- After Shakhtar beat Inter twice, did you have any fears before the match that the Miners could cause major problems to Roma? As it turned out, they didn’t. Have Shakhtar become weaker or is it Roma who’ve got so strong?

- I am not going to comment on the situation at Shakhtar – that’s none of my business. I can only build on the results. They speak for themselves: Shakhtar beat Real twice and drew twice with Inter. Naturally, any team during the season goes through different situations, there are ups and downs. I would like to draw your attention to the last match that Shakhtar won confidently, with a score of 4-0, against fairly strong opponents. Most likely, the team are on the rise now. And I need to take care of mine, about how to prepare the team better. Shakhtar will do their best tomorrow to come from behind, respectively, the maximum concentration of my players may be the key to victory. If they can accomplish what I ask them to do and are focussed, then we will succeed.