ROME -- Radja Nainggolan insists he has no regrets about ignoring approaches from Chelsea and Antonio Conte for his services, since he is motivated to succeed with Roma.
The Belgian midfielder has been linked many times with a move to Chelsea -- Roma's Champions League opponents on Tuesday -- while Conte has made no secret of his admiration for him.
Nainggolan appeared to be contemplating his future in a cryptic Instagram post in June, but he said at a news conference in Rome on Monday that he had not once contemplated leaving the Giallorossi.
"I made my choice and I've never even thought of being somewhere else," he said. "I'm focused here, as I always have been.
"The question [of regretting not being a Chelsea player] makes no sense. Whether it's against Chelsea or any other big team, each player gets motivated for games like these."
Nainggolan is the only player Roma coach Eusebio Di Francesco confirmed will start on Wednesday night, although with Alessandro Florenzi reverting to a full-back role to cover for the injured Bruno Peres -- who was ruled out with a thigh strain on Monday -- there has been talk of the Belgian joining Diego Perotti and Edin Dzeko in attack.
Stephan El Shaarawy and Gerson, who was a shock pick at Stamford Bridge, are alternatives, but Di Francesco said nobody will know who plays until Tuesday night.
"I could even play with the same team I picked for Bologna, except Radja - who will start, and he's the only one I'm confirming," said the Roma coach. "We'll see where he plays. I will only tell you that Radja starts, and the rest you find out tomorrow. I will field the team I feel is most likely to get a result against Chelsea."
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That means further rotation to his side is not out of the question, with Di Francesco defending his frequent team selection changes this season.
"Logically, every player wants to play every game, but playing three games over 90 minutes at a high rhythm in six days -- you need to have physical and mental energy for games like these," he said.
"You have to be able to hit your peak each time. Radja has been one of the midfielders I have used most this year, as he has the characteristics to be able to cope with more games."
In addition to losing Bruno Peres, Di Francesco confirmed that Patrik Schick will also miss out again on Tuesday.
The subject of injuries -- with 14 serious knee ligament tears in the past three years, following Rick Karsdorp's injury last week -- has been setting the agenda in Rome, and Di Francesco admitted he too is concerned. However, he says he will return to that subject after Tuesday night.
"I don't believe in coincidences, but we're putting the issue of injuries to one side for now," he said. "We need to focus on Chelsea. I think we need to be more united than ever now. I think there'll be a great crowd tomorrow and I hope it will be a great festival atmosphere."
Meanwhile, Roma announced on Monday that Federico Fazio has signed a new three-year deal. The former Tottenham defender, an Argentina international, committed his future to Roma until June 2020.
Fazio, who has made 59 appearances for Roma, told the club's official website: "This was an easy decision for me to make. "Ever since I arrived here I've got on really well with all my team-mates, the staff and everyone who works here at Roma.
"I love the city and I'm really happy here. It's great news that I'm going to be here until 2020."
Source: espn.co.uk