GARCIA CALLS FOR FLAWLESS DISPLAY AGAINST BARCELONA
Rudi Garcia says Roma will have to produce a perfect performance if we are to come away with a result from Tuesday's Champions League showdown with Barcelona at Camp Nou. The French tactician understands the magnitude of the task facing his side against the reigning European champions, who approach the game in scintillating form following their 4-0 demolition of La Liga rivals Real Madrid at the weekend, but insists Roma can spring a surprise victory if they are totally on the ball both mentally and tactically.
“We're going to have to be virtually perfect if we want to take home a decent result,” Garcia told the gathered media on the eve of the Giallorossi's Group E Matchday 5 encounter. “It will need a combination of factors. We must believe in our ability, produce a masterclass display and use up every ounce of energy. But you can be sure we're not going out there just to make up the numbers.”
Will Roma look for balance or try to be a bit more daring?
“We know how things stand in the group. Barcelona only need a point to be sure of finishing first while for us losing or drawing makes no difference from a psychological perspective. If we want to be sure qualification remains in our own hands the best thing we can do is go out and win it. Very few sides have managed that down the years because Barcelona are one of the best teams in the world. We'll have to defend as well as we did in the reverse fixture but also take full advantage of the chances that come our way. Victory would make a big difference to our prospects.”
What are you going to ask your players to do?
“Pull out all the stops. We have to make the most of a game like this and make sure we leave the pitch with no regrets. My players have to believe they can pull it off and do everything they can to achieve the best result possible. We know our opponents are superior but in a one-off game anything can happen. Our chances of success are small but we'll give it our best shot.”
Do you think Barcelona are invincible?
“No one is invincible. They do win a lot of games but they've lost a few too – although that hasn't happened in the last two years in the Champions League. But that's the wonderful thing about football: when it looks like there's only one result, football is one of the few sports where the underdog can win. If we head out there thinking we're going to lose there's no point us even playing. We'll make the most of this opportunity to play against one of the best teams in the world and hopefully we'll leave the field with a result befitting of our ability.”
How do you put the shackles on a team with such a potent attacking force as Barcelona's?
“We have to remember the reverse fixture because that will be their front three. We came through the test well last time and we'll need a repeat of that tomorrow. Defence is not just the backline; our performance back in Rome was down to the whole team. You know how I see it: This match is massively important but it might not be decisive.”
How's Daniele De Rossi doing?
“We'll have to see how he looks in training today. He's ok and he's getting better but we'll decide together if it would be a risk. It's an important match and could be decisive but then again qualification might come down to our last group game and if it means losing Daniele for the next six matches then it's a risk I'd rather not run. If he is ok to play, he can play a big part in helping us getting a good result.”
How's the mood in the camp after Bologna?
“The players are fine mentally, although a bit frustrated by the draw. The pitch took a lot out of us but apart from the international players who have played lots it's only the second game in a run of eight. We'll be able to give it everything without holding anything back because we then have another five days before our next league game.”
Where will the game be won tactically?
“We'll have to see if De Rossi is fit because he was superb in the first game in Rome. If he doesn't make it, we have Keita and Vainqueur, or another option could be to play without a deep-lying playmaker but an extra attacking midfielder instead. We won't head out there with a single game plan in mind. It will depend on lots of things. If we want to get out of our half and escape their high pressing we're going to have to take risks – and you do need to take risks in matches like this. We have Dzeko who can hold the ball up for us and players who can play it first time and get the ball where we want it to be before Barcelona close us down.”
(Photo LaPresse)
