Juric press conference before the game against Dynamo Kyiv

Ivan Juric met the media the day before Roma's Europa League Matchday 3 clash with Dynamo Kiev at the Stadio Olimpico.

Read what the boss had to say below…

How will you rotate in this European game? Will you make any big or small changes, like for the game against Inter? Will Artem Dovbyk be rotated?

“I haven't decided yet. (Gianluca) Mancini couldn't finish training because of a fever, so we'll have to wait and see. I'll definitely make a few changes, but with seven games in 21 days I think it's right to involve as many people as possible and give them every chance so I can make decisions. There won’t be big changes, but there will be some.”

When you came to Roma everyone knew you as a coach who could instill courage, intensity and determination. This team doesn't seem to have taken on your typical characteristics. Why do you think this is so?

“We're getting there. To be honest, we saw a lot of desire in the last game, but at the same time, as you say, we don't have a winning mentality yet. Of the last 17 games, Roma have only won three – one with Daniele and two with me. This means we don't have the right mentality for Roma or even for a lower league team.

“It's true that I can see good performances in many areas, but at the end of the day we made a lot of mistakes against Monza and didn't win, and the same goes for Elfsborg. Against Inter I thought we played well and with character, but then you make a mistake that costs you the game. We have everything we need to work well, we don't lack anything, so there are no excuses. We have the right conditions to be successful and we do a lot of things well, but we don't have that winning mentality and that definitely needs to change. To perform like that, to win or lose a point and be happy is not good.

“I expect that tomorrow we will see even more determination to improve in this regard because when you are in a difficult situation you need courage and character to get out of it, no matter who is in the dugout. I want to see that tomorrow and Sunday. Games like Monza and Elfsborg, where we dominate and don’t win, or Inter, where we make mistakes, are no longer acceptable.”

When I spoke to Mile Svilar on Sunday, I sensed some discouragement in the locker room given the phase you're going through. What is the mood like in camp and do you think this team has what it takes to overcome certain difficulties?

“I have to answer since I already answered. In the last few games the team did a lot of things well, created a lot of chances – we can also mention Bilbao, a great performance, but conceded a goal in the end.

“I am happy with certain things. I can see the players improving. I see how he (meaning Tommaso Baldanzi) goes full throttle. I see people who have improved their stresses in various aspects. We are not where Roma should be at the moment – a team that wins games. We do a lot of things well, there are a lot of positive aspects, but we need a complete change in mentality. I'm happy with the general performance, with certain details when we increase the tempo when we have the ball, but it's not enough. I don't see any excuses and I don't give any. Now all we can do is react and push hard. My team has to show what they’re made of.”

Are you playing Angelino in central defense because of his qualities or because Mario Hermoso is not yet at his best?

“No, Hermoso is a top professional and I really like him in this position. I see Angelino as a player who can dribble and gain a numerical advantage, has good vision, has a good cross, is very good defensively and I think he can do a great job as a full-back. He can also do a great job as a central defender and that's why I choose him there. It is not a decision made for lack of alternatives. It’s a technical decision.”

Will Mats Hummels and Enzo Le Fee be in the starting line-up tomorrow?

“I'm thinking about it, but I still have to decide. I can't say for sure. I've talked about Le Fee before. I expect great things from Hummels and we need him. We have to choose the right games to bring him in, but I’m seriously thinking about it.”

It has been reported that tomorrow and Sunday is your last chance saloon. As you said, in Trigoria you have everything, but maybe there is not much protection for the trainer? I mean at club level.

“I don’t need anything else. The situation is perfect. We have a sports director with whom I talk about everything. We share everything. I feel his confidence. He observes every training session and notices what goes well and what goes less well. Personally, I don't need anything else to do my job well. I could point things out and make excuses, just like the players could, but that would show weakness. We have to go into games and attack our opponents. As I said, we're not missing anything. You come here to train and everything is perfectly organized. The training opportunities are fantastic. We have to win games. We won three out of 17 games between me and Daniele – him 11 and one, me six and two. This means there is a problem with our mentality. The performances are here. We have the players. We're not on par with Inter, but we have the players. All excuses.

“I want to see something different tomorrow, not just in our game, in our commitment, but I have never conceded a goal like against Monza before. I am not happy with this trend for a dedicated team. Tomorrow I want something different, more aggression, even if we don't play so well, we need something different if we want to be winners and change the mentality we have at the moment.”

Roma are off to a poor start in Serie A and Europe. What's top priority at the moment, the league or Europe?

“In my book, everything is important. Tomorrow is not important – it is more than that. Given the development of the last few seasons, the club is aiming to get into the Champions League and considers this to be very important. Both Europe and the Coppa Italia can bring great joy. We must not underestimate anything. The same goes for the players: Take Baldanzi for example. He always comes off the bench and tomorrow he will start, but it's not a rotation. He is not a reserve. Everything is important, but the primary goal is of course the Champions League.”

Your style of football is tiring both mentally and physically, as you said when you arrived here. And now you're talking about a winning mentality. So how do you train the mentality of this team?

“We have made great progress in terms of our football and our style of play. You strengthen the winning mentality in training. We didn't make mistakes that often, but that's where you grow, become tough and learn not to fall. Going into games with the right attitude also helps build a winning mentality. Mentally and physically, increasing your level so much in a month in terms of sprints and acceleration means that your body gets used to it and you follow along. It must be the same with your mind. You have to start winning again, want to win, and at the moment we are not there yet.”

Do you need more dynamism in midfield?

“Some things are good, but we can do a lot better. In general, we can do better. There were games where I was happy. Less recently. We have a lot of players in midfield and will try out different combinations. But there are no guaranteed spots, that's for sure, and especially not if things don't go well. In my eyes they are all at the same level and can all play.”

Ultimately, it is always the quality of the players that makes the difference. Does that mean some players aren't giving it their all at the moment?

“I think if I play against Monza I have to win. When I see the game against Inter, I have to draw. When I watch the Elfsborg game, I have to win or draw. I have to win against Bilbao. If you play games with the right effort and will, you must get your reward. Of course, sometimes there are bad days when you don't play well and lose. At the moment we are in debt. Our performance is better than our results, but that is no excuse. It means we are not mentally ready. The goals against Monza and Bilbao shouldn't happen.

“I think this team will grow, but they have a huge opportunity, a unique opportunity. They can get back up from a completely shitty situation, a complete disaster around them, but they also need a different kind of determination, an incredible desire to change things and get going again. It's not often in life that you find yourself in a situation like this, with protests and boos directed at you, for various reasons. The fans are always right, but the players can turn things around. That's how they have to see it – as the best opportunity of their lives. In a great venue, where the stadium is always full and with incredible support, they have to turn things around. And to achieve this, they must become like animals. Good football, good running, good pace, but they need a different mentality. From tomorrow I expect something different.”