From his hospital bed after knee surgery, Francesco Totti admits the Scudetto has slipped from Roma’s grasp. “It’s 99 per cent over.”
The Giallorossi were just four points adrift going into the last round, but the 1-1 home draw with Livorno and Inter’s victory at Torino widened the gap to six points with four matches to go.
“The Scudetto? It’s going to be difficult. It’s 99 per cent over,” the captain told RAI Uno television.
“There are four games left and we have six points to claw back. We must be realistic in life. We fought until the end, but slipped up against Livorno and it ended there.”
It was an impressive challenge considering a few months ago Inter were 11 points clear, but in the end their inability to beat the small sides – drawing both games with bottom of the table Livorno – proved decisive.
To make matters worse, during Saturday’s match Totti was stretchered off with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee and has now undergone surgery.
The four-month absence won’t matter for Euro 2008 as Totti has already retired from international duty, but he has an idea on who should be called up.
“The statistics and current form speak for Alessandro Del Piero. He is proving that he is a top champion and it is difficult to leave behind someone playing like that.”
Juventus captain Del Piero has not played for the Azzurri for some time, as he refused to be played out of position as a wide midfielder rather than his usual support striker role.
