Football
Dermot Corrigan, Madrid correspondent 8y

Luciano Spalletti: Roma can repeat shock UCL victory over Real Madrid

ROME -- Roma coach Luciano Spalletti has said he believes his side can repeat their 2008 Champions League win over Real Madrid -- and veteran striker Francesco Totti could play a part.

Spalletti, whose side take on Real at the Stadio Olimpico on Wednesday, oversaw that triumph -- and he said he "would not be amazed" if they went through again in this year's round-of-16 tie.

"In 2008 it was a surprise... well, we like springing surprises," he told a news conference on Tuesday.

"I would not be amazed at all if we were still fighting in the last minute of the return leg, and I would not be amazed if it was my team who went through."

The coach said Roma were "heading down a road where we can get the best out of this group of players" and "this is the most suitable game to see if the road we are on is the right one."

He added: "I'm very optimistic, as I see my players improving all the time. I don't think there's a favourite. I think we've got 50 percent chance of going through."

Cristiano Ronaldo, who scored 11 goals in the group stages, as many as the whole Roma team combined, poses a big threat to those hopes -- but Spalletti warned his players not to focus on just him.

"Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the best players in the world, justifiably for what he does on the field," the 56-year-old said.

"But I'm not going to put a cage around him, like I've read recently. I'm not going to tell three of my players to mark him. I'm not going to be telling my players they have a third of the quality of Ronaldo, or else we would need 33 players to deal with Real Madrid.

"Our aim is to go out and win games, and we want to keep things that way. I'm only unhappy when my team doesn't show they want to try.

"You've got to have the courage to dare. You don't regret bad results, you regret when you did not try to show your character. All I think about is getting a result for Roma."

Totti, the oldest goal-scorer in the competition, is back in training after an injury problem and Spalletti said: "Obviously if he's available and in the 18 on the team sheet, he can be used," Spalletti said. "Why not? It always depends on how the game is and his condition -- it depends on all the factors which contribute to us trying to win the game.

"I hear a lot about experience and if we only consider that, then we win -- I play Maicon, [Seydou] Keita, [Morgan] De Sanctis and all the best players in terms of history and experience.

"No, to win games you need strength, energy and willingness. It's a lot of things together."

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