Luciano Spalletti admits anything less than a Champions League space for Roma “will mean we have all failed.”
The Giallorossi had an appalling start to the season and were catching up fast before losing 3-2 at Catania before the Christmas break.
“We are aiming for fourth place, but even third. The side knows it and I will remind them all. However, if we do not finish in the top four, then it will mean we have all failed.”
They are still nine points off Fiorentina in fourth place, albeit with a game in hand to be played later this month against Sampdoria.
Some say that the team cannot function without injured captain Francesco Totti, but this sort of attitude infuriates the Coach.
“A team cannot depend on one player. We need to set motivational targets and win the game. Only tomorrow’s match will tell us what our conditions are after this long break and if I were to bet on this result, it’d be on a home win.”
All eyes will be on David Beckham, who is likely to come off the bench for his Serie A debut, while Milan boss Carlo Ancelotti hit headlines after announcing he’d love to replace Spalletti.
“The media circus around Beckham is not a surprise. He always has to deal with an enormous amount of pressure and this further proves his quality.
“As for Ancelotti, it is nice to know he has this aspiration and remembers fondly his time spent as a player at Roma. The club deserves a great man and he fits the bill.
“Having said that, I will point out one thing: If I had said three or four times that I wanted to be the Coach of Milan, what would’ve happened here in Rome?
“Ancelotti can get away with it, but here people would demand an answer and almost make me feel guilty.”
The Giallorossi tactician can’t be too fond of Milan at the moment, as they are reportedly trying to poach star defender Philippe Mexes.
“There is a lot of transfer talk at Roma, but the agents ought to work for the good of their clients and not to pressurise situations in clubs. Players need to maintain their professional reputation.”
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