“With the two South Americans behind the front man, it will be more of a 4-2-3-1. The 4-3-3 is a bit different to the way I see it, with the wide forwards hugging the touchline, as that’s not exactly Paulo’s style of play. We might have to change it when he plays, if he plays. And we’ll have to ask Matias [Soule] to do something different too, but yes, they can play together. We’ve always said they could.
“I wouldn’t rule anything out. Good footballers can play together. Sometimes one of them will play, sometimes neither of them. They’re both very talented players, just as other players we have are very talented. They have different talent. Which some football fans might like less. Some players are talented with the ball at their feet, others are talented without the ball, some give the team balance. I’ll pick the players I feel are the best ones for each game.”
Last weekend at Cagliari, we didn’t see Matías Soulé and Paulo Dybala in the same starting XI, but the two did share the pitch for the last 20 minutes or so of the match. That seemed to be more of a result of Dybala’s looming decision on his mega-offer from Saudi side Al-Qadsiah than the fact that both are left-footed players who prefer to play on the right half of the pitch. And Daniele De Rossi seemed to confirm that during his prematch press conference.
Knowing that, we’ll get our first look of Roma’s revamped attacking trio from the opening whistle for the first time with Dybala and Soulé behind Artem Dovbyk. Supporting them in the attacking midfield of the 4-2-3-1 will be captain Lorenzo Pellegrini.
“As for midfield, now that Paredes is available again we’ll have to see if Paredes plays or not. If he does play, I’ll choose the other midfielders based on Paredes’ qualities, but there’s no reason why Bryan or Enzo, or Baldanzi, or [Edoardo] Bove, or [Niccolo] Pisilli, or someone else can’t play. We have lots of midfielders at the moment. Bryan offers a different kind of physicality.”
De Rossi was coy when asked about Paredes’ return and how that will affect the midfield this week. And while he didn’t commit on any player, it seems like Paredes and Cristante will make up the double pivot. Rounding out the XI will be the same defense in front of Mile Svilar, consisting of Angeliño, Ndicka, Mancini, and Çelik.
ROMA (4-2-3-1): Svilar; Angeliño, Ndicka, Mancini, Çelik; Cristante, Paredes; Soulé, Pellegrini, Dybala; Dovbyk.