AS Roma coach Luciano Spalletti insisted that his side would put in an improved showing in Wednesday’s Champions League second leg clash against Arsenal.
Two weeks ago the Italians came off clearly second best in a 1-0 defeat in London that could easily have ended more emphatically in the Gunners’ favour.
Spalletti had admitted to being surprised by how well Arsene Wenger’s team played at the Emirates and he claimed they could be even better still at Rome’s Stadio Olimpico.
“I have already said that they had developed in a way that even they weren’t expecting given how they had been playing,” he said of Arsenal’s first leg performance.
“They played well in the first leg, playing good football with high fitness levels that they hadn’t shown in their previous matches.
“Now they have won their last few matches, they’ve got players coming back to fitness, they’re enthusiastic and that’s what I’m expecting.
“However, I know that we will be different from the team you saw in London and above all we will have our fans behind us, something which can make the difference.
“Even if it will be difficult, we can still progress to the next round.”
Roma have lost to Manchester United at the last eight stage in each of the last two seasons but in the group stage they finished above Chelsea.
At this stage last season they also knocked out Real Madrid, winning at home and away.
However, on this occasion, they have to overcome a deficit and Montenegro striker Mirko Vucinic said he can’t wait for the match to start.
“It’s an important match and just thinking about it gives me a headache,” he said.
