Paulo Fonseca warned his side of the threat Torino will pose during his pre-match press conference on Wednesday.
The Giallorossi host Marco Giampaolo's side at the Stadio Olimpico on Thursday night, with kick-off at 20:45 local time.
Here's what the boss said ahead of the contest...
Is the last meeting with Torino at the Olimpico a reminder of the difficulties this game could pose? And what have you made of Marco Giampaolo’s side this season?
“A game that happened 11 months ago doesn’t have any impact. What matters is the quality Torino possess. They are a good side, I don’t think the league table shows their true level. It will be a tough game, against an organised side who want to play and take possession. We need to be at our best if we want to win.”
With Bryan Cristante suspended, how are Gianluca Mancini and Marash Kumbulla?
“Kumbulla is fine, there’s no strain. Mancini is ready to play just as Smalling is. We’ll see tomorrow.”
Romelu Lukaku has said that he thinks he is among the five best strikers in the world. Would you put Edin Dzeko in that five as well?
“I don’t agree with Lukaku. In my opinion the best two are Edin Dzeko and Borja Mayoral. And third is Henrikh Mkhitaryan.”
The team is on a roll right now. What are you telling your side in order to maintain that?
“Ambition, ambition in every game. I don’t worry about the numbers. What matters is the present. We always need to focus on the next game. So that’s Torino, which won’t be easy.”
Have you changed something in the fitness training in order to maintain such high fitness levels?
“It’s hard to change the physical preparations when we are playing games every three days and don’t have much time to train – but clearly we are going well. We have been working together for longer, and then good results bring extra motivation too.”
Do you consider this game tougher than the one against Bologna?
“I thought it was going to be tough to win against Bologna, and I think it will be tough to win against Torino as well. It’s difficult to win against anyone in Serie A.”
(Photo Getty Images)
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Source: legaseriea.it