Spalletti: "One goal and everything changes"
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Mission impossible for Roma, which at the Bernabeu is hunting for the feat after the 2-0 defeat in the first leg of the Champions round of 16 against Real Madrid. On paper, there are no chances for the Giallorossi, but the seven consecutive league wins are giving more strength and conviction to the whole environment, so much so that Luciano Spalletti in a press conference is not ruling anything out.
“It’s a game in which we have to think about scoring a goal: if we succeed, the race turns over in our heads. After that, everything would change. There is the result of the first leg that penalizes us, but we must not think about it: if you think about having to score three goals it becomes difficult, but in soccer psychological implications become fundamental. If you score a goal, everything could change,” he explained in the press conference.
Spalletti is just turning 57 today: “What do I ask for as a birthday present? Usually the birthday boy gets presents. I don’t dare ask the boys but I guess they know which one I would like. I usually ask my players for the impossible but in this case here I seemed to see in their faces that they expect much more as a request, so everything becomes possible.”
“Are the latest injuries penalizing us? A great team cannot depend on one or two players, otherwise it would not be one. We have a couple of defections that complicate our plans a bit, but I trust all the members of the squad who have already proven to be reliable, as for example in Empoli. That will be the case this time as well, I expect a lot from everyone.”
“Will it be a false nueve match or will a real striker be needed? Probably more of a true nine because they will be competing carefully, having the advantage of the result of the first leg, and then we should be the ones to force situations and with a player with these characteristics it should be easier. Did the president predict three goals? He is a nice person and a positive. When one has charisma but is too distant you cannot follow him in his performances, if he is more in contact instead you can absorb them more easily,” his words to Mediaset Premium.
