Football
Ben Gladwell, Italy correspondent 8y

Roma boss targets first goal in Real Madrid Champions League clash

Roma coach Luciano Spalletti has said his side can transform their Champions League round-of-16 tie against Real Madrid if they score the first goal at the Bernabeu.

The Serie A club are 2-0 down from the first leg, with few pundits giving them much hope of turning things around despite their recent fine form.

But Spalletti told his prematch news conference: "We've got to go out there and try to score one goal -- because if we score once, things change.

"If we think of having to score three goals, then it's difficult.

"This is hard, because the result from the first leg makes it so, but different things happen in football, such as psychological changes in the game.

"So we have to go out to get that goal. After that, everything would change."

Spalletti led an unfancied Roma side to victory over Real in the 2008 competition, and said he believed a similar shock was possible this time.

"I think it's wrong [to aim just to come away with pride] because we've got to send a clear message to our team," he added.

"Everybody who does my job asks for the best, but I go one further -- I ask for the impossible.

"If I can ask that bit more from my team, I do it. We've got to go there and give them a game. We've got to be convinced. If you think something's possible, then it is."

^ Back to Top ^