Director of sport Monchi assures Roma “are in the Champions League quarter-final and we can dream” against Barcelona.
The Giallorossi already eliminated Atletico Madrid and Shakhtar Donetsk, finishing ahead of Chelsea in their very tough group.
“We should be satisfied with what we have done in the Champions League, not just for reaching the quarter-finals, but also to have done so ahead of Chelsea and Atletico Madrid,” Monchi told Mundo Deportivo newspaper.
Director of sport Monchi assures Roma “are in the Champions League quarter-final and we can dream” against Barcelona.
The Giallorossi already eliminated Atletico Madrid and Shakhtar Donetsk, finishing ahead of Chelsea in their very tough group.
“We should be satisfied with what we have done in the Champions League, not just for reaching the quarter-finals, but also to have done so ahead of Chelsea and Atletico Madrid,” Monchi told Mundo Deportivo newspaper.
“It was a difficult year, because we had a change of Coach and director of sport, while Francesco Totti retired and some important players left the club.
“I am sure we could’ve done better, but are happy with the growth of the club on the international stage. We are in the Champions League quarter-final and that means we can dream.”
“We chose to give Eusebio Di Francesco this chance and find the players who would suit his style. He has some similarities with Unai Emery, others to Marcelino, but he has his own way of understanding the club. He’s a good tactician and likes to keep the team tight.”
Monchi spent most of his career at Sevilla, turning them into three-times Europa League winners, so why opt for Roma?
“The fundamental thing was that the project suited me. I could continue to work in the same way I did at Sevilla, in a very personal manner, and I like that.
“Serie A is a different league, country and culture to La Liga. Some rules and habits are also different, but the basic work remains the same and the club trusts me.”
Considering Roma are taking on Barcelona, was Monchi ever tempted to join the Blaugrana?
“It’s a question I’m asked many times and I always said the truth, which is that I never had contact with Barcelona and I don’t think I was ever their target.
“Leo Messi said himself the other day that he has improved in learning to understand football as more a collective sport than an individual one, that he should make his teammates feel they are more important than him. If we are to neutralise Barcelona, we’ll have to do it as a collective and not focus only on Messi.
“I don’t know if our chances of progress are 20 or 30 percent, but seeing as we are in the quarter-finals, its only right that we can dream.”
The Spanish Press welcomed the draw with Roma with almost insulting levels of glee.
“I saw some of the front pages, but games are decided on the pitch.”