ROME: AS Roma coach Luciano Spaletti is praying club captain Francesco Totti will be fit to play in this weekend’s crucial clash against champions Inter Milan.
Totti has barely figured for the Italian Cup holders this season and they have clearly felt his absence, picking up a paltry seven points from six matches, leaving them well off the early pace of leaders and city rivals Lazio.
Two other teams are also on 13 points at the top, Udinese and more importantly Inter, meaning that Roma must win tomorrow or risk seeing their title hopes go up in smoke less than a fifth of the way through the season.
 Talismanic: Roma have sorely missed the creativity and inspiration of their injured captain Francesco Totti (below). — AP
Totti is not just Roma’s captain, he’s also their talisman and main source of creativity and inspiration, and coach Spalletti is confident he is fit and ready to return.
“He seems ready to me. Totti’s readiness is there for all to see: the intensity with which he is training gives us some interesting options for the Inter match,” said Spalletti.
And the coach admitted that his return will come not a moment too soon following three defeats in their first six matches.
“As a team we’re trying to reorganise because we’ve lost a bit of ground. These things have happened but the players are working hard and I can see their desire.”
While Totti’s return would be a welcome boost and should improve morale and confidence, it is not actually up front where Roma are suffering most.
Only five teams have scored more goals than the Giallorosso this season despite their lowly position of 14th in the 20-team division.
It is at the back where Roma’s problems are starkest, mostly due to a string of injuries and suspensions.
One match that would not normally be expected to attract too much attention outside of Sicily also takes place this weekend with added significance.
Catania play Palermo in a local derby which last year was shamed by the killing of a policeman. Palermo currently fourth while seventh placed Catania would have been level on points with the top three if they had held on to the lead they enjoyed at Reggina last time out.
Victory for either side would almost certainly guarantee a top four place at the end of the day.
Leaders Lazio visit third from bottom Bologna, whose only win of the season came at AC Milan.
Milan host winless Sampdoria while fellow title hopefuls Fio-rentina entertain Reggina and Juventus travel to high-flying Napoli looking to arrest a slide of three games without a win |
發表於 2008-10-18 01:28 PM
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