Rudi Garcia insists Roma’s “only failure was the Coppa Italia, but if I don’t feel useful to the players, I’ll step aside.”

The Giallorossi host Genoa on Sunday at 14.00 GMT, click here for a match preview.

“We need to prove our hunger, motivation, our objective obviously is to win. We know there are no easy games in Serie A, that Genoa are like us in a difficult moment, but our only target is to do everything for the three points.

Rudi Garcia insists Roma’s “only failure was the Coppa Italia, but if I don’t feel useful to the players, I’ll step aside.”

The Giallorossi host Genoa on Sunday at 14.00 GMT, click here for a match preview.

“We need to prove our hunger, motivation, our objective obviously is to win. We know there are no easy games in Serie A, that Genoa are like us in a difficult moment, but our only target is to do everything for the three points.

“A victory is the only interesting result for us, especially right now,” said the Coach in his Press conference.

Will this be his final game on the Roma bench?

“I am not thinking about this, I have other battles to fight. I know the rules of the game, that’s not a problem. I remain motivated, relaxed and combative. I believe in these lads. It’s true we failed in the Coppa Italia and that’s a black mark on the season.

“I made decisions after the game and tried to rectify certain situations. We’ll see in January if we can find other solutions, but right now we have to give everything we’ve got. To win we need character.

“We haven’t won since November 8, that is the only reason for these problems. It was all going well until then. The only truly negative thing is the elimination against a Serie B side, otherwise we achieved our target of qualifying for the Champions League Round of 16, which is a step forward compared to last season.

“We are up there in Serie A and I want to remind people we are not even half-way through the campaign, while we still have to face Inter, Napoli and Fiorentina on home turf.

“We did let an important opportunity go in the Coppa Italia and we are angry, I am the first to be angry. Now we have to focus on not just staying up there in Serie A, but to climb even more to reach the Champions League qualifying spots.”

Juan Manuel Iturbe has practically been sold to Watford, but Garcia assured “he is in the squad against Genoa.

“We have to rediscover our enthusiasm, verve and joy of football. After that we need to find our physical sharpness, which will be helped by the fixture list. We won’t play every three days.

“Since the Coppa Italia match we’ve been living together with the players here. They know what I think, that I was angry after the Coppa Italia, but this training retreat is not to punish them. It’s to help us spend more time together, talk and understand where we are and where we want to go.

“I talk to the club every day and I assure them we have the solutions. You know in football that victory means everything.”

Garcia hinted several times that the strike from the ultras, who left the Curva Sud empty all season, has been a decisive factor in their problems.

“I am the chief, so when things don’t go well I take my share of the responsibility. It is not easy at this moment for the players to play at the Olimpico and it’s no coincidence we get better results away from home.

“We are damaged by the absence of our fans. We have no alibis for Spezia, but playing at that time of the afternoon and without fans does mean I have to push on the players.

“Am I the problem at Roma? That’s not for me to answer. If I don’t feel useful to my team, then I will step aside. I am motivated, focused on achieving our targets. We will find the solutions and change things in January if needed, but I can’t say anything more than we must give everything on Sunday.

“The locker room is a sacred hall for me. I know how to make decisions, it is my job, but I also know I have a quality staff and at times the insights of players can be very useful. If they have to take responsibility, then they can have their say too.

“We have intelligent leaders in the locker room, such as Morgan De Sanctis, Daniele De Rossi and others.

“I am happy with the Roma I have at my disposal, we knew there was a lot of pressure to qualify from the Champions League group phase this season with an ‘easier’ group and obviously that used up a lot of energy.

“We lost some important players to injury. We haven’t scored enough in recent weeks, but are fortunately more solid in defence.

“As I said, the only major failure was the Coppa Italia. We are fifth, but we are only three points away from second.

“We all work together, I am happy with my rapport with the directors. Of course I defend the players, as confidence is the most important thing for them right now.

“Perhaps the problem for this team is that we put in fantastic performances away to Juventus, Napoli and Fiorentina with a great atmosphere, did what we had to at home to BATE Borisov, then lost at home in empty stadiums to Atalanta and Spezia.

“I have to push the team to believe it can do great things and take responsibility, to help each other out. I am not stupid, we have made decisions and will make changes in terms of training and other issues.

“I have total faith in my director of sport and we speak every day. I see Walter Sabatini more than some members of my family.”

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