Roma hoping for miracle
Di Francesco counting on Dzeko for spot in Champions League final
ROMA coach Eusebio Di Francesco is counting on another Edin Dzeko-inspired miracle against Liverpool to reach the Champions League final, the coach said yesterday. Trailing 5-2 after the first leg of their Champions League semifinal, Roma need to score at least three goals at the Stadio Olimpico tonight to reach the May 26 final in Kiev. Dzeko scored a crucial, late away goal in the 4-1 quarterfinal first leg defeat at Barcelona and the opening goal of Roma’s 3-0 second leg win at the Stadio Olimpico that saw the Italians through on away goals.
The Bosnian handed Roma another lifeline with an 81st strike after Liverpool had romped to a five-goal lead at Anfield last week, Diego Perotti adding a precious second from the spot four minutes later to keep Roma’s final hopes alive.
“Players with his [Dzeko’s] qualities must be decisive as [Mohamed] Salah was in the first leg,” Di Francesco said.
Former Roma forward Salah tore through his former club at Anfield, scoring twice and setting up two more goals.
“We can’t change a team just for him [Salah] or put three players on him, we have to be good at raising the athletic level, giving little, but remembering that we have to score three goals.
“We were at the mercy of Liverpool for 25 minutes and that cannot happen. We want to try and do something big in a stadium with 70 000 people.
“If I could, I would copy and paste that performance against Barcelona, not just technically but on a mental and physical level,” he said of their comeback from 4-1 down against the Spaniards last month to reach the semifinals.
“The desire to make another miracle happen must push us all to give that extra something.”
Bosnian forward Dzeko has scored 24 goals for Roma in all competitions this season, and Radja Nainggolan warned he was ready to break his European drought.
“I’ve never scored in the Champions League, maybe I’ll break through tomorrow,” the Belgian said.
“We will try to complete another comeback and, although it will be complicated, I’m the type of person who never likes the simple way.”
Dutch defensive midfielder Kevin Strootman, however, has been ruled out with a leg injury.
Roma lost the European Cup final to Liverpool 34 years ago, but Di Francesco warned: “The 1984 final is in the hearts of the people, but they are two games that cannot be compared.”
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp’s assistant, Zeljko Buvac, stepped aside this week for personal reason, and Di Francesco joked: “I’ve kicked out my assistant too to make it even!
“It’s internal stuff, I’m not preparing the game based on that. We’ll face a strong and determined team which represents a great club, one with a great history in Europe. “I don’t think one staff member can make a difference.” Reports yesterday suggested Buvac was being linked with a move to manage Arsenal next season.