Roma midfielder Radja Nainggolan describes a Champions League comeback against Liverpool as “difficult” but “it’s not impossible”.
The Giallorossi are 5-2 down after the first leg of the semi-final, so need to win 3-0 or 4-1 tomorrow to progress on away goals.
“Even I have to say it’s difficult,” Nainggolan told The Times.
“But it’s not impossible. We did it against Barcelona – against [Lionel] Messi and [Luis] Suarez – and they barely had a shot all game.
Roma midfielder Radja Nainggolan describes a Champions League comeback against Liverpool as “difficult” but “it’s not impossible”.
The Giallorossi are 5-2 down after the first leg of the semi-final, so need to win 3-0 or 4-1 tomorrow to progress on away goals.
“Even I have to say it’s difficult,” Nainggolan told The Times.
“But it’s not impossible. We did it against Barcelona – against [Lionel] Messi and [Luis] Suarez – and they barely had a shot all game.
“We’ll try to make another historic moment like we did against Barcelona. That shows that it’s possible.
“We were sad in the locker-room after the game at Liverpool, but the coach said to us the next day: ‘We have to believe we can do it.’ That’s all we can do.
“It was the first Champions League semi-final for a lot of our players and to lose 5-2… They are so quick in the attack and we had a lot of difficulties.
“It’s difficult playing against them because they’re all aggressive, they all press high and they keep running like animals. Even in the 94th minute they were still running.
“I don’t think Liverpool had what I would call fluid actions, but they were playing the ball into space and we made too many mistakes by leaving for them.
“It was a great atmosphere at Anfield. You can feel that the people there live for the team.
“It’s not like this in a lot of stadiums, but Liverpool have to come to Rome now. I think they will expect something similar.
“It’s difficult for us, despite the two goals we scored, but not impossible.”
Nainggolan was linked with a move away from the Stadio Olimpico after Euro 2016, with Antonio Conte keen to bring him to Chelsea.
“Chelsea, yes, that was something. It wasn’t done, but they were interested in me. Last season, when they won the Premier League, it was the beginning of that season.
“At the end of the day, the choice wasn’t that difficult for me. I like English football, I love to watch the English games too, but I’m almost 30 now.
“Starting over again? It’s difficult even to think about that. And I hate the rain. We were in Liverpool two days and it didn’t stop raining. It was cold too.
“You see the difference to here [Rome]?”