Montella sets goal for Roma

Vincenzo Montella has called on his Roma players to prove they deserve Champions League football next season by finishing fourth in Serie A.

Roma lost 3-2 at home to Palermo last Saturday, a result that left the team sixth, seven points behind fierce local rivals Lazio in fourth.

They have five matches left to try and overhaul the teams ahead of them, with Montella urging his players not to give up yet.

“We must show whether we deserve the Champions League or not on the pitch,” Montella said.

“There is a micro-possibility for us to get back into the race. Lazio might lose in Milan. Then there are head-to-heads.”

“The worst thing that could happen to us would be to have any regrets for not doing something that we could have done.”

“We are going forward with pride and professionalism to honour our fans and ourselves.”

Roma are at home to Chievo on Saturday, with Jeremy Menez expected to start, despite enduring a difficult week off the pitch.

The French midfielder, who is tipped to leave the Stadio Olimpico at the end of the season, had a training-ground row with Montella before his car was pelted with rocks by angry Roma fans.

“We are all sorry about what happened to him, and so are the majority of Roma supporters,” Montella said.

“He is calm and wants to get back to the game.”

Fri 22 April, 2011

Montella sets goal for Roma

Vincenzo Montella has called on his Roma players to prove they deserve Champions League football next season by finishing fourth in Serie A.

Roma lost 3-2 at home to Palermo last Saturday, a result that left the team sixth, seven points behind fierce local rivals Lazio in fourth.

They have five matches left to try and overhaul the teams ahead of them, with Montella urging his players not to give up yet.

“We must show whether we deserve the Champions League or not on the pitch,” Montella said.

“There is a micro-possibility for us to get back into the race. Lazio might lose in Milan. Then there are head-to-heads.”

“The worst thing that could happen to us would be to have any regrets for not doing something that we could have done.”

“We are going forward with pride and professionalism to honour our fans and ourselves.”

Roma are at home to Chievo on Saturday, with Jeremy Menez expected to start, despite enduring a difficult week off the pitch.

The French midfielder, who is tipped to leave the Stadio Olimpico at the end of the season, had a training-ground row with Montella before his car was pelted with rocks by angry Roma fans.

“We are all sorry about what happened to him, and so are the majority of Roma supporters,” Montella said.

“He is calm and wants to get back to the game.”

Fri 22 April, 2011

Montella stays positive

Roma boss Vincenzo Montella felt his side battled well despite difficult weather conditions in their 2-2 Serie A draw with Fiorentina.

In Sunday’s early kick-off, Roma came from behind twice to earn a share of the spoils at Fiorentina’s Stadio Artemi Franchi.

Adrian Mutu opened the scoring for the hosts in the 22nd minute before Francesco Totti restored parity from the penalty spot.

Alessandro Gamberini ensured the home side would lead at the break courtesy of a 35th minute goal, only for Totti to intervene again with a 52nd minute strike.

Caretaker manager Montella was pleased with his players’ resilience, particularly given the wintry weather that he felt hampered their usual style of play.

“There were probably a couple of factors behind this result, but one was definitely more of a factor than the other. In my view, I felt the wind was the major factor,” Montella said.

“In the first half playing was very difficult with that wind, especially for a team like ours which is used to playing and passing the ball. Fiorentina proved that too in the second half, because they had some problems too.”

“I prefer to stress the reaction that the team had in the second half because they reacted well and it wasn’t easy in the conditions we had to face.”

“That’s why I’m looking on the bright side and staying positive. Of course we have some things to regret in the first half. Usually when you start badly you finish badly as well. It’s difficult to finish better, but today we ended the game better than we started.”

Mon 21 March, 2011

Montella stays positive

Roma boss Vincenzo Montella felt his side battled well despite difficult weather conditions in their 2-2 Serie A draw with Fiorentina.

In Sunday’s early kick-off, Roma came from behind twice to earn a share of the spoils at Fiorentina’s Stadio Artemi Franchi.

Adrian Mutu opened the scoring for the hosts in the 22nd minute before Francesco Totti restored parity from the penalty spot.

Alessandro Gamberini ensured the home side would lead at the break courtesy of a 35th minute goal, only for Totti to intervene again with a 52nd minute strike.

Caretaker manager Montella was pleased with his players’ resilience, particularly given the wintry weather that he felt hampered their usual style of play.

“There were probably a couple of factors behind this result, but one was definitely more of a factor than the other. In my view, I felt the wind was the major factor,” Montella said.

“In the first half playing was very difficult with that wind, especially for a team like ours which is used to playing and passing the ball. Fiorentina proved that too in the second half, because they had some problems too.”

“I prefer to stress the reaction that the team had in the second half because they reacted well and it wasn’t easy in the conditions we had to face.”

“That’s why I’m looking on the bright side and staying positive. Of course we have some things to regret in the first half. Usually when you start badly you finish badly as well. It’s difficult to finish better, but today we ended the game better than we started.”

Mon 21 March, 2011

Montella hails terrific Totti

Roma coach Vincenzo Montella heaped praise on captain Francesco Totti after the he guided Roma to a 2-0 win over Lazio in Sunday’s Rome derby.

Totti notched a terrific second-half brace to hand Montella victory in his first derby as coach, after the Italian took over Claudio Ranieri last month.

Totti has scored three times in four games under Montella, but the coach was quick to defer any credit to the veteran striker.

“It’s not thanks to me, Totti is his own person,” Montella said.

“When he plays, there are people who don’t want him to play, whereas when he doesn’t play, they would want him to play.”

“This is his destiny but he is used to it. He’s doing very well from a physical point of view and has proved it against Bologna and Parma and he has proved it very well today.”

“Therefore it is not thanks to me, since he has been doing very well from the physical point of view since I’ve joined this team.”

He added: “We have produced a better performance in the first half of the match compared to the second half, as far as the game is concerned.”

Lazio coach Edy Reja paid tribute to Roma and defended himself against criticism for substituting off star players Mauro Zarate and Hernanes with his side trailing 1-0 in the second half.

“Roma produced a good performance in defence with players such as (Nicolas) Burdisso, (Philippe) Mexes and Juan, who haven’t left us room on many occasions,” Reja said.

“They have played very well in defence and maybe we haven’t had the right attitude for a derby. The match hasn’t been good.”

“I tried to achieve a bit more physical presence, since Roma were defending very well and we hadn’t been able to pass through their defensive line.”

“Therefore I’ve tried something different with (Libor) Kozak and (Stefano) Mauri trying to create more since there were no other options.”

“These are our skills. This team doesn’t work on physical strength, but on agility and on the chances created from the midfield onwards. Today for example there has been a lack of this.”

Sun 13 March, 2011

Montella hails terrific Totti

Roma coach Vincenzo Montella heaped praise on captain Francesco Totti after the he guided Roma to a 2-0 win over Lazio in Sunday’s Rome derby.

Totti notched a terrific second-half brace to hand Montella victory in his first derby as coach, after the Italian took over Claudio Ranieri last month.

Totti has scored three times in four games under Montella, but the coach was quick to defer any credit to the veteran striker.

“It’s not thanks to me, Totti is his own person,” Montella said.

“When he plays, there are people who don’t want him to play, whereas when he doesn’t play, they would want him to play.”

“This is his destiny but he is used to it. He’s doing very well from a physical point of view and has proved it against Bologna and Parma and he has proved it very well today.”

“Therefore it is not thanks to me, since he has been doing very well from the physical point of view since I’ve joined this team.”

He added: “We have produced a better performance in the first half of the match compared to the second half, as far as the game is concerned.”

Lazio coach Edy Reja paid tribute to Roma and defended himself against criticism for substituting off star players Mauro Zarate and Hernanes with his side trailing 1-0 in the second half.

“Roma produced a good performance in defence with players such as (Nicolas) Burdisso, (Philippe) Mexes and Juan, who haven’t left us room on many occasions,” Reja said.

“They have played very well in defence and maybe we haven’t had the right attitude for a derby. The match hasn’t been good.”

“I tried to achieve a bit more physical presence, since Roma were defending very well and we hadn’t been able to pass through their defensive line.”

“Therefore I’ve tried something different with (Libor) Kozak and (Stefano) Mauri trying to create more since there were no other options.”

“These are our skills. This team doesn’t work on physical strength, but on agility and on the chances created from the midfield onwards. Today for example there has been a lack of this.”

Sun 13 March, 2011

Montella eyes derby prize

Roma will look to return to winning ways when they take on city rivals Lazio on Sunday.

They were eliminated from the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday after a 3-0 loss at Ukrainian side Shakhtar Donetsk.

It was the first defeat for interim head coach Vincenzo Montella in four matches, and he says he hopes his players approach the match like any other.

“I see my team are calm. I’ve asked my players to face this derby as calmly as they can,” Montella said.

“There will be many implications from tomorrow’s match, but for me it isn’t the most important game.”

“Of course it’s important for both teams for their position in the table and it’s important for us because we have the chance to try to win back our fans.”

“That’s why I expect a warm welcome tomorrow. Roma supporters can be the protagonists and they know how to cheer their players on when they want and that’s my hope for tomorrow.

Roma are sixth in Serie A five points behind their city rivals, who are fourth.

Lazio head coach Edy Reja said a positive attitude was the key to the match.

Reja’s side have had the better of their arch nemesis this season, with Lazio currently two spot ahead of Roma on the Serie A table in fourth position.

But despite their good form, they have not beaten Roma in their last four attempts, and Reja said they must believe in themselves if they are to win the three points on Sunday.

“We need to go on the pitch with the right determination and be convinced we can win the game,” Reja said.

“We’ve always had this attitude, with care and intelligence and taking into consideration Roma’s qualities.”

“They will do their best because they know it will be essential for them to win, if they want to have some hope of getting into the Champions League next year. Our aim will be not to let them do it.”

Sun 13 March, 2011

Montella eyes derby prize

Roma will look to return to winning ways when they take on city rivals Lazio on Sunday.

They were eliminated from the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday after a 3-0 loss at Ukrainian side Shakhtar Donetsk.

It was the first defeat for interim head coach Vincenzo Montella in four matches, and he says he hopes his players approach the match like any other.

“I see my team are calm. I’ve asked my players to face this derby as calmly as they can,” Montella said.

“There will be many implications from tomorrow’s match, but for me it isn’t the most important game.”

“Of course it’s important for both teams for their position in the table and it’s important for us because we have the chance to try to win back our fans.”

“That’s why I expect a warm welcome tomorrow. Roma supporters can be the protagonists and they know how to cheer their players on when they want and that’s my hope for tomorrow.

Roma are sixth in Serie A five points behind their city rivals, who are fourth.

Lazio head coach Edy Reja said a positive attitude was the key to the match.

Reja’s side have had the better of their arch nemesis this season, with Lazio currently two spot ahead of Roma on the Serie A table in fourth position.

But despite their good form, they have not beaten Roma in their last four attempts, and Reja said they must believe in themselves if they are to win the three points on Sunday.

“We need to go on the pitch with the right determination and be convinced we can win the game,” Reja said.

“We’ve always had this attitude, with care and intelligence and taking into consideration Roma’s qualities.”

“They will do their best because they know it will be essential for them to win, if they want to have some hope of getting into the Champions League next year. Our aim will be not to let them do it.”

Sun 13 March, 2011