Roma Femminile Coach Piovani on Barcelona Challenge: "A Complete Team. I Want to See My Players Grow"

Coach Piovani shared his thoughts ahead of the match against Barcelona.

Facing what is arguably the top team in European football, how do you psychologically and mentally prepare for such a match? You yourself described Barcelona as almost unbeatable after the win against Sassuolo. What will be Roma's mental approach, and what will you tell the players before the game?
"I touched on this with the players this morning. We've watched videos of Barcelona, so they know it's a significant challenge, a real test. I told them to stay calm and composed. They're facing players who are, in quotes, 'better' than them. But that's not entirely true. If we work as a team, we can hold our own. It's a very demanding game, requiring a lot of energy. Barcelona maintains possession more than any other team in Europe, so we'll need to work hard defensively and be sharp on the counter-attack. I'm keeping my players relaxed because I see this as a growth opportunity for them, a chance to compete against top players."

Does Barcelona have any weaknesses, even just one, and should we expect a different Roma tomorrow, perhaps with a five-player defense for better balance?
"Barcelona's one weakness is that they don't have a left-footed player in their squad, though they have many strong right-footed players. That's their only weakness. They are a complete team in every department, requiring a strong mentality. As Valentina mentioned, even a small mistake will be punished. We need to play a perfect game. Regarding the formation, no, we won't change our system significantly. We'll likely stick to our current approach with a four-player defense, perhaps a slightly more covered midfield. We need pace up front for counter-attacks, as that's an area they concede. After this morning's training, I'll meet with the staff to finalize solutions, although we've already tried a few things. The turnaround from Sunday's match to this one is very short, just as it will be before Saturday's game against Lazio."

Excluding the league, Roma has a draw in Europe and a penalty shootout loss in the Women's Cup final, games where perhaps Roma deserved more. How do you address this aspect leading up to such an important match?
"Thank you for that question; it's something I wanted to bring up. We've only lost one match this year, against Sassuolo, and we didn't deserve to lose it. The Women's Cup wasn't complicated; we reached the final, which shows we have quality. Despite known difficulties with injuries, the same few players were playing constantly, and some were not yet fully fit. Thankfully, they are improving. A very questionable penalty in the 95th minute cost us the Women's Cup, and Pandini's missed penalty in the 95th minute led to a draw instead of a win. If we had won the Women's Cup and the penalty shootout, the narrative would be different. But for me, it doesn't change anything; we are still in contention. Losing the Women's Cup is disappointing, but what truly matters to me is the progress these players are making. They are performing extraordinarily well daily, in how they approach training, support each other, collaborate, and follow our guidance. This is what I value. Results will come. If we missed them by an inch, we'll eventually win by an inch. Seeing them grow is my priority."

Where do you think Roma can make a difference to trouble the champions?
"By playing with courage. Not necessarily on equal footing, as they are incredibly skilled players, but by trying to play their style. They possess immense quality, evident in their consistent Champions League final appearances. They also have a massive budget. We need to be courageous, try to play on par with them, maintain intensity when we have the ball, attempt to build play as they do, and recover the ball quickly when they possess it. We need to play with freedom and execute what we know we can do, because these players are steadily improving. Courage is key."

Coach, you've spoken about a growth path, and Valentina did too, mentioning Barcelona's substantial budget. Are there still differences between Italian and European, specifically Spanish, football? How do you prepare for a European match compared to a league game?
"The difference in Europe is that a club like Barcelona can afford top players due to immense financial resources, making them difficult opponents. Italian football is a bit different. I'd focus more on the growth of our national team. Nationally, we are competitive now, as many of Barcelona's top players also play for their national teams, alongside players from Austria and England. So, they don't have an overwhelming number of such players compared to us. However, on the club level, we are still significantly behind internationally. We hope that in the coming years, with the Federation's help, we can bridge this gap. We are progressing slowly, through hard work, together."

Typically, players are asked if they feel the coach's confidence. I'd like to ask: what does it feel like to receive the players' trust?
"It's wonderful. It signifies that something important has been established to move forward with a project. This project is relatively new, considering the players who remained and, especially, those who arrived. For instance, we had to adapt our playing style because Viennes' characteristics differ from Martina Piemonte's. This requires time and understanding. The entire staff and I feel the players are with us, and there's still room and time for improvement. The journey ahead is long, but we'll approach it with enthusiasm and passion, as always. The goal is to stay united through difficulties, which are inevitable, though hopefully not too soon. Cohesion, empathy, and open dialogue are crucial. When we implement strategies, it's for the team's benefit, but we often consult with the players to ensure our approach aligns with their strengths and doesn't clash with the characteristics of key players. We consult to find the best solutions, without abandoning our football philosophy."