ROME - AS Roma captain Francesco bTotti admitted his team has all but given up on winning Serie A and will now focus solely on lifting the Champions League trophy instead.
ROME - AS Roma captain Francesco bTotti admitted his team has all but given up on winning Serie A and will now focus solely on lifting the Champions League trophy instead.
Totti scored in Tuesday night's 2-0 home victory against Bordeaux to ensure the Italians finished top of Group A, leaving last season's runners-up Chelsea in their wake.
And with the Romans sitting 14th in Serie A, 16 points off leaders Inter Milan after a disastrous opening to their campaign, Totti admitted they will now focus on Europe's top competition.
"We have to be realistic the scudetto will be very difficult especially because Inter rarely drop points," he told Sky Sport.
"Our aim is to finish between second and fourth [to qualify for the Champions League next season], first place is gone.
"But we will keep giving our best in the championship as we do in the Champions League."
There is an extra motivation for Roma to try to reach the Champions League final as it will be held in the city's Stadio Olimpico, something that is not lost on Totti, hoping for a return to his home stadium on May 27.
"Right now we've arrived on the outskirts of Rome, the centre is still a long way off, but we know the streets well," he said.
"I've already said it, I don't want to watch the match as a spectator. It will be my only chance to play in it [the final] at home." Roma finished top of a Champions League group for the first time having finished second in each of the previous two years behind Valencia and Manchester United.
Both times they reached the quarterfinals only to lose to United but with this new corner turned, the Italians are feeling more confident.
"We're happy because it's the first time we've topped a group. You could say it's an unforgettable day," said Totti. - Sapa-AFP
Tuesday's Results
Chelsea 2, CFR Cluj 1; AS Roma 2, Bordeaux 0; Panathinaikos 1, Anorthosis 0; Werder Bremen 2, Inter Milan 1; Basel 0, Sporting Lisbon 1; Barcelona 2, Shakhtar 3; PSV Eindhoven 1, Liverpool 3; Marseille 0, Atletico Madrid 0
roma in cup chase
ROME - AS Roma captain Francesco bTotti admitted his team has all but given up on winning Serie A and will now focus solely on lifting the Champions League trophy instead.
ROME - AS Roma captain Francesco bTotti admitted his team has all but given up on winning Serie A and will now focus solely on lifting the Champions League trophy instead.
Totti scored in Tuesday night's 2-0 home victory against Bordeaux to ensure the Italians finished top of Group A, leaving last season's runners-up Chelsea in their wake.
And with the Romans sitting 14th in Serie A, 16 points off leaders Inter Milan after a disastrous opening to their campaign, Totti admitted they will now focus on Europe's top competition.
"We have to be realistic the scudetto will be very difficult especially because Inter rarely drop points," he told Sky Sport.
"Our aim is to finish between second and fourth [to qualify for the Champions League next season], first place is gone.
"But we will keep giving our best in the championship as we do in the Champions League."
There is an extra motivation for Roma to try to reach the Champions League final as it will be held in the city's Stadio Olimpico, something that is not lost on Totti, hoping for a return to his home stadium on May 27.
"Right now we've arrived on the outskirts of Rome, the centre is still a long way off, but we know the streets well," he said.
"I've already said it, I don't want to watch the match as a spectator. It will be my only chance to play in it [the final] at home." Roma finished top of a Champions League group for the first time having finished second in each of the previous two years behind Valencia and Manchester United.
Both times they reached the quarterfinals only to lose to United but with this new corner turned, the Italians are feeling more confident.
"We're happy because it's the first time we've topped a group. You could say it's an unforgettable day," said Totti. - Sapa-AFP
Tuesday's Results
Chelsea 2, CFR Cluj 1; AS Roma 2, Bordeaux 0; Panathinaikos 1, Anorthosis 0; Werder Bremen 2, Inter Milan 1; Basel 0, Sporting Lisbon 1; Barcelona 2, Shakhtar 3; PSV Eindhoven 1, Liverpool 3; Marseille 0, Atletico Madrid 0
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