Roma head coach Alberto Aquilani has confirmed that Berardi and Volpato will not be available for Saturday's Serie A clash with Sassuolo at the Stadio Olimpico, which kicks off at 20:45 on 7 November as part of the 11th matchday. Aquilani spoke to reporters at his pre-match press conference, where he was asked about Sassuolo's recent slide and his own situation.
Sassuolo started the season well, but their momentum has stalled, and the Sassuolo defenders' problems have been part of the picture. Aquilani said the cause of such turbulent spells cannot be reduced to one thing: "When there are these turbulent, particular, ugly moments, the reasons must necessarily be a series. This is a team game, of episodes and dynamics, and the reasons can be many: tactical, which we work on, mental, and the individual factors of the players. I have been a player, and every footballer lives it differently, it is a series of reasons, and it is undeniable that at this moment we have to identify these reasons and try to solve them, because this team started in a way that showed certain things, and we entered a tunnel we did not expect in such a continuous way, even though the calendar has not helped us. We have to play the match, we must not fall apart, you do not have to win at all costs, and there are a series of components that are ruining this path we had begun well."
Aquilani also addressed the emotional side of the fixture, which carries personal significance for him. "This is an important challenge also for what it represents for me, and I would have liked to return to the Olimpico in a different mood, but we must be men and look reality in the face, and prepare by analysing the things we can improve. There is the tactical aspect, certainly, but we have to grow and increase our perception of danger, because we are paying dearly for avoidable errors. The goal conceded to Fiorentina in the first half, you cannot concede it, there is a minute left, you are ten inside the box against two Fiorentina players, and that goal was a blow; we probably lack a bit of morale. Then the match lasts 90 minutes, you can lose in a certain way, but you have to put many things in, and the man matters more than the player." He added that the Fiorentina game had been going well before it unravelled: "Whether it was pretty or ugly, we were doing it well against Fiorentina, it was coming together, then it got messy, and when it gets messy you have to stay on it, otherwise it is too easy. In the bad moment you have to give more, and now it is harder and you have to give more."
On his own position, Aquilani said: "It is the first time I have entered that stadium as a coach, and nobody can take that away from me. I have to put the emotions aside, because once we step onto the pitch there is no room for them." Asked about the speculation that has begun to circulate after these results, he replied: "I have people close to me who are extraordinary, but I am the coach, and now the results are not there; I am the first to question myself, because I am trying to get out of this situation with a good squad available. The club has been close to me, as it has been from the first day. We look ahead, knowing that tomorrow will be a complicated match, and we must go and do our best."
Asked about the two things he wants to see on Saturday, Aquilani said: "Correcting the error, certainly, because it steers the match, and trying to limit errors, because in Serie A certain errors cannot be allowed, but I am not talking about the defenders, I am talking about something global. The second aspect is knowing how to live in the turbulence; in rough seas you have to stay in it, otherwise you put the oars down and there is nothing more you can do. Tomorrow there will be complicated moments and we have to stay in them, because it is our job, we chose it, and it would be too easy otherwise when it is all roses."
Asked how Volpato is, Aquilani replied: "No." On Berardi, he said: "No, the others are available." He also said his players have no option but to respond: "There is no other way than to react. We have to react, stay in the match. We have to do serious things; we must run a bit more than the opponents, because probably that is also what we are lacking, winning tackles and going for second balls. That is what I expect, knowing that 100 per cent might not be enough, but from 100 per cent upwards we must do it, because we have dignity."
