Alessandro Florenzi insists Roma can catch Napoli in second place and media “created a movie” around his Luciano Spalletti rapport.
The versatile home-grown talent gave an interview for the AS Roma Match Program ahead of their game with Bologna.
“I scored my first goal at the Olimpico against Bologna and remember it well. Francesco Totti’s shot came off the post and I nodded in the rebound. It was a strong sensation, as scoring in front of your fans is always different.
Alessandro Florenzi insists Roma can catch Napoli in second place and media “created a movie” around his Luciano Spalletti rapport.
The versatile home-grown talent gave an interview for the AS Roma Match Program ahead of their game with Bologna.
“I scored my first goal at the Olimpico against Bologna and remember it well. Francesco Totti’s shot came off the post and I nodded in the rebound. It was a strong sensation, as scoring in front of your fans is always different.
“Even if Bologna are going through a difficult moment, this is a great team who often play at a high level. We must face them as if it’s a Champions League Final. If we don’t win this match, we wipe out all the good work done so far.”
The Giallorossi are in a battle with Napoli for second place, which would give automatic entry to the Champions League rather than going through a preliminary round in August.
“Is it a big gap from second? That depends on how you look at it. We have an objective, which is to win the next game, as we approach every week like that. We try to break away from the chasing pack, Inter and Fiorentina, while we certainly won’t let go of Napoli.
“If they were to make another slip-up and we win, we’d be truly right there for second place. They will miss Gonzalo Higuain during his ban, but I don’t know how much really.”
Spalletti transformed Roma after replacing Rudi Garcia in January.
“He had a strong impact because he already knew the environment and the team did well to use his tactical suggestions straight away. We found from the start that even tiny tactical adjustments made a big difference.
“As victories arrived, we realised that we had to follow him in every way and we’re doing that with great dedication. Seeing as the results are on our side, the confidence is growing day by day and we’re achieving things we never thought possible.”
Florenzi took this opportunity to deny reports he had a ‘row’ with Spalletti and was frozen out of training after the defeat to Juventus.
“That incident was misinterpreted. People created a movie out of it to seed the idea there were problems at Roma and in particular between me and the Coach.
“As I went off, I told the referee that it wasn’t a foul, but the Coach pointed out it was pointless complaining considering he had already blown the whistle.
“In that game I got an injury and didn’t train for three days, but people said it was me being punished for that moment. They created this entire narrative in what could’ve been a very difficult moment for us.”