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| | Friendly: Totti returns for Roma |
Friday 15 August, 2008 |
| Francesco Totti returned to action ahead of schedule during Roma’s 1-0 win over Frosinone last night and he expects to play in the Italian Super Cup.
The pressure was on the Giallorossi to find some form against Serie B outfit Frosinone after a demoralising 5-0 defeat to Tottenham last weekend.
Chievo target Mauro Esposito scored the only goal after 10 minutes when he converted a Cicinho ball.
But the main story of the night at the Stadio Matusa was the return of Totti, who had been absent since sustaining a cruciate knee ligament injury against Livorno on April 19.
Er Pupone came on in the 59th minute to replace Stefano Chuka Okaka and played his first football in four months.
“I felt good,” Totti declared on the Roma Channel. “The knee is fine and I am happy with this return to football.
“At first I was a bit anxious but a little fear is normal and my confidence grew after the first 10 or 20 seconds.
“At the moment I can feel a few small pains, but I have been missing tackles and pressure from opponents.
“But things are getting better like this. If I continue on this level then I will definitely be back for the Italian Super Cup on August 24.”
As Roma were in action last night, the confirmation arrived that Brazilian striker Julio Baptista had signed.
“I have heard talk about this for a month in the newspapers but the negotiations took ages,” Totti said. “I think he is a good signing for us.”
The talismanic trequartista concluded by assessing the upcoming title race.
“Jose Mourinho has shown that he is a great Coach but I just hope he doesn’t do well for Inter this year,” he stressed.
“The Scudetto race won’t just be a question of two teams this year because Juventus, Milan and Fiorentina are also in contention.”
Frosinone 0-1 Roma
Scorer: Esposito 10
Frosinone: Frattali; Guidi (Ischia 63), Scarlato (Cannarsa 63), Ascoli (Nocentini 63); Antonazzo (Lorini 74), Perra (D’Antoni 63), Biso (Amerini 63), Bocchetti (Di Roberto 63), Eder (Martini 63); Santoruvo (Dedic 46), Cariello (Gucher 76)
Roma: Artur; Cicinho (Andreolli 58), Loria (Juan 46), Cassetti (Riise 46), Panucci; Esposito (Perrotta 46), Brighi, Aquilani, Alvarez (Vucinic 46); Montella (Virga 46), Okaka (Totti 59)
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