ETERNALLY HOPEFUL
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE Di Francesco: I can pull off another miracle with Roma
ROMA coach Eusebio Di Francesco says miracles can keep occurring in the Eternal City.
And the Serie A club is calling for the support of “every grandfather, grandson, son, father and mother” even before kick-off on another emotional night in the Stadio Olimpico.
The Italian side trail Liverpool by three goals after the first leg of the Champions League semi-finals.
But Roma created a huge shock by overcoming the same deficit in the last round against Lionel Messi’s Barcelona to set up this repeat of the 1984 European Cup Final in the same venue.
And Di Francesco said: “We’ve done something extraordinary in the Champions League this term.
“I have come here to launch a message: this team has had a great journey and we don’t want to stop now.
“We want to believe in this comeback because that is my attitude to life. I believe.
“I am an optimist by nature. What pushes me on is passion and helping to give joy to people.
“I like to leave the celebrating to others at the final whistle because that’s part of the job.
“To compete in Europe you need to be physical and in the first leg we were inferior to them in that respect. In order BY NEIL McLEMAN to get a result, we have to at least equal them.”
Former Manchester City striker Edin Dzeko scored one of the late goals at Anfield to give the Romans renewed hope.
He said: “I hope it can be like the Barca game. We have to give our all from the start, the stadium will be packed and we have to do better on home turf.”
Roma fans disgraced the club with an attack on Liverpool fan Sean Cox at Anfield but sporting director Monchi has called on them to show their positive side in the return leg.
He said: “I’d like Rome to be decked out in yellow and red, and for all the fans to hang banners on their balconies to show the world that Rome supports Roma.
“There’s a lot of talk about violence right now, so let’s show everyone that Roma fans are not violent.
“Beating Liverpool will be harder than beating Barca. There is no tomorrow, everything finishes on Wednesday, and we must leave everything out on the pitch.
“Every grandfather, grandson, father, mother: on Wednesday we are playing for everyone. We have to be convinced we can do it.”