Luciano Spalletti admits the Champions League tie against Porto is “crucial” for Roma’s season.
The Giallorossi finished third in Serie A last year, so must go through the play-off round to qualify for the Group Stage of the competition.
With the first leg in Portugal on Wednesday, the Coach spoke to AS Roma Match Program about the two-legged tie.
“On Wednesday August 17, the new season officially starts,” Spalletti noted.
Luciano Spalletti admits the Champions League tie against Porto is “crucial” for Roma’s season.
The Giallorossi finished third in Serie A last year, so must go through the play-off round to qualify for the Group Stage of the competition.
With the first leg in Portugal on Wednesday, the Coach spoke to AS Roma Match Program about the two-legged tie.
“On Wednesday August 17, the new season officially starts,” Spalletti noted.
“This preliminary with Porto is crucial for us, and we’ve worked hard to prepare as well as possible. Any opponent the draw threw up would have been crucial for Roma, my team and our atmosphere.
“It’s a really important match and we have to be ready. It’s clear that it would have been better if we were top seeds, but we have to think like a high-level team and be ready to face any name which appears before us, without wanting one team over another.
“Our efforts should be concentrated on considering all our opponents to be strong, but also being convinced that we can go through against anyone.
“I’m convinced that’s how it’ll be here, and it’ll be a tough game. Our opponent, Porto, has a grand tradition and a squad of good players,
“We play the first game away from home, at the Dragao. I already know the stadium because I went there when I was on the Zenit bench, it’s a particularly fiery atmosphere.
“Then it’s up to them to come to Stadio Olimpico and they’ll find our fans who will support us and look to make it hard for the opponents.
“In the first game we’ll have to put our ideas into practice from the start and put the pedal to the metal right away.
“Roma are built to play against opponents of our level, meeting the great teams needs to become the norm for us.
“It’s difficult to get through the play-off and win the first League game well, the latter game is sandwiched in between the first leg and the return in the Champions League, but we’re structured to win big games.”