Ivan Juric has insisted that he is not letting his uncertain future at the Stadio Olimpico distract him from the task he has with Roma as they prepare to host Torino after a 5-1 thumping by Fiorentina over the weekend.
The Giallorossi coach is under severe pressure, and reports over the weekend suggested that he could lose his job after the hammering by Fioretnina. However, that turned out not to be the case, and the Croatian is still set to lead the team into the Torino clash on Thursday.
Juric spent most of his pre-match press conference talking about his future and the current situation around Roma.
Juric did not deny that there have been confrontations in the dressing room over the last few days. He brushed that off, and encouraged that sort of response from his players, in fact.
He also insisted that he is not thinking about the consequences of potentially losing his job, as that only serves as a distraction from the job he has to do on the training pitch.
“I’m not thinking about being sacked, I do my job and whatever happens, happens,” Juric told the media at his pre-match press conference on Wednesday.
“I think you can’t count Roma out. We need to bring in as many results as possible, we need to convince and make clear what needs to be done.”
Juric admits to dressing room arguments after 5-1 Fiorentina loss
Juric did not deny the fact that harsh words have been exchanged since the big loss to Fiorentina at the weekend.
“There have been arguments on some days, heavy ones. But sometimes things are better after that happens. It’s better that happens now than it come out later down the line. Now we are beginning to steady the ship and have a clearer level of thought of what we have to do as a team and what I have to do as a coach. So in that sense, I see it as a positive.
“My character and my way makes me feel that this is the right thing. I will try to put the best possible team out to go and win the match. We start again in a great way, and yesterday I saw a team full of conviction. As I’ve said, it’s better this way than losing 1-0 and continuing to piddle along. It’s an important moment for everyone.”
Juric was asked about the conversations he has had with captain Lorenzo Pellegrini, who has also come under criticism for club and country since the start of the 2024-25 season.
“I think we’ve told each other the truth, maybe more fired up at the start, and then in a more reasonable manner. I am the coach and I have to train and prepare the team for the game.”
Juric also opened up on the recent discussions he has had with the Roma ownership group.
“I’m in contact with the President. We’ve spoken about lots of things, and that’s gone well. These are all distractions from your work on the pitch. I stick by my ideas. The players play, I coach and the doctor treats his patients. As I said on the first day, I don’t see many shortcomings, and in fact I prefer it this way.
“I make decisions and the management holds you responsible. Everything else is a distraction. Everyone has to do their bit. We have to work hard and this is the right way to go about it given the situation, that’s how I feel.”
Poor guy never stood a chance. Roma head office is a shambles and should hang their heads in shame….