Roma coach Paulo Fonseca left Edin Dzeko on the bench for their opening day 0-0 draw with Verona.
Dzeko is waiting to join Juventus.
“We can't say what would've happened if Dzeko had played," the coach told DAZN.
“I think we had a very good first half, wasting three or four chances to score and that would've changed the game. In the second half, with Hellas Verona's long ball game, we struggled on the second ball and it is difficult to keep possession like that.
“We still created the chances to score a goal and I think if we'd got one in, everything would've changed.
“It's been tough for three weeks of training, but the team is in good shape physically. We didn't control the second half the way we wanted to, as we didn't get those second balls, but we finished the match pushing in their penalty area, so it was clearly not a fitness issue.
“I liked the way the team played with three defenders towards the end of last season. I always say we are ready to play either with four or three, but I do like the way this team plays with three."
