AS Roma: Edin Dzeko is 'tired' and 'no one is irreplaceable' - Coach Fonseca

AS Roma Bosnian pro striker Edin Dzeko looking very tired after the Serie A encounter against Parma Calcio at the Stadio Olympico. Photo: Giuseppe Maffia/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Roma coach Paulo Fonseca hopes to have ‘tired’ Edin Dzeko available against Brescia, but is forced to make changes due to the one-match bans for Bryan Cristante and Henrikh Mkhitaryan.


The press conference started with a look at the Europa League draw, but Fonseca wanted to focus on the task at hand before looking at the potential future opponents in the competition.

“At the moment they’re all difficult opponents. We can’t think about it, first we have to face Sevilla, then, if we win, we’ll see,” Fonseca said at a press conference.

“We are working to have [Chris] Smalling in the Europa League, I’m confident.”

Chris Smalling will not travel to Brescia for Saturday’s match, staying at Trigoria with Davide Santon.

Bryan Cristante and Henrikh Mkhitaryan are out suspended but Fonseca revealed he will continue with the same formation and hopes to be able to call on Edin Dzeko again.

“We will play with three in defence, [Federico] Fazio will replace [Bryan] Cristante.

“We will see about Dzeko. We can’t forget that he played the last two games and there are few days to recover. I talked to him yesterday and he was a bit tired. I would like to speak to him again, to decide.”

“I’m never satisfied, but I have complete confidence in Pellegrini,” he added.

“You know I like him a lot.

AS Roma striker Edin Dzeko looking tired after the Serie A match against Parma Calcio inside the Stadio Olympico. Photo: Silvia Lore/Getty Images

“He’s a young player who must improve, we can’t forget that he was injured during the season. But I think he can improve further.”

Roma come from a good experience against Parma but struggled to make the most of their opportunities even then.

“We must understand how the opponents play. Parma defend well near the box and with many players. It’s not easy to find space.

“I must say that we have to improve two aspects: the occupation of spaces and the final decision.

"We have Dzeko’s situation at stake and we must understand if he will be ready or not.

“No one is irreplaceable, and not only at Roma, but in all the squads."