AIMS
“We are outsiders, we’ve known that from the start. We’ve made a good start in our first two games and now we’re in the mix. We’ll see a packed Olimpico with a fiery atmosphere. We need to make sure we make the most of the spells we’re on top in the game. The fact there’s not too much pressure on us can help. We need to enjoy it out there, we’ve got nothing to lose and everything to gain. That could be the key to us approaching the match in the right way. We don’t want to sit back and watch them, that can happen in a sport like football when you come up against one of the best sides in the world. We’ll do everything we can to make life hard for them and ultimately pick up points. We want to prove the people wrong who wrote us off after the draw was made. Even if we play well against Bayern we’ll only be halfway through the group stage.”

GUARDIOLA
“He’s one of the best coaches around. He made a very tough decision in taking over at one of the best clubs in the world after they had just won everything and he has consolidated his position by leading them to further titles. He’s definitely one of the best coaches of his generation.”

BENATIA
“Benatia is now a Bayern Munich player, he’s no longer at Roma. I’ll only speak about my players.”

BAYERN MUNICH
“We’ve watched a lot of their matches both in the Bundesliga and Champions League. One minor thing could make the difference. One approach is to adapt to your opponents and I have a team that does that very intelligently. But we also need to have a Plan B, otherwise it becomes difficult. Yes, they don’t concede many goals and we respect our opponents, but we’re not afraid of anyone. We’ll come up against some top players and a great team but we have a lot of desire and hunger to perform well. We’ll give everything we’ve got and then we’ll see what happens. We’re comfortable with being underdogs. Either way we want to end the match with a very positive result.”

The thoughts of Daniele De Rossi on the eve of Roma v Bayern Munich:

AIMS
“I agree with the coach on the fact that we don’t have a lot of pressure on us. That said, I’m sure we can get through the group. We have a great coach and some terrific players. We’re at our best when we play with a smile on our faces but then when you go out there nobody wants to lose. We want to get out of the group and I’m sure we can do so. If we draw after playing with courage and we’ve tried to make our supporters proud then that will be a decent result because we’re playing one European football’s major forces. But we definitely won’t go out there with a small club mentality and just put numbers behind the ball.

LAST MEETING IN 2010
“Roma’s ambitions have changed since 2011 and that’s down to last season. We’re as strong as we were back then if not stronger. We performed really well in 2011, coming from behind even though Bayern Munich was already through. Tomorrow’s match will be a different game but a great one nonetheless.”

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE AND SERIE A
“The biggest difference is that everyone takes the game to you in Europe. In Italy however you come up against brick walls, sides reluctant to play football which makes it hard for you to perform well. The Champions League is the biggest competition you can play in. Roma has always produced sides capable of playing football, occasionally performing better on the continent than in the league. And we’re even more aware of our strength this season than we have been in the past.”

REFEREES IN EUROPE
“I don’t know if the standard of refereeing is more likely to be better in Europe. We moan about Italian referees just as we do in Europe or the rest of the world. Take our match against Uruguay in the World Cup for instance. That’s the level referees are at. In Italy we’re used to commenting on certain controversies because we play lots of matches.”

DECISION TO STAY AT ROMA
“When I made a decision it wasn’t based on my ambitions. I could have joined a more ambitious club than Roma but I stayed here because I’ve supported this club for 30 years. Either way, this is the best period I’ve had at Roma. I’m surrounded by great footballers, a brilliant coach and top management. This is the best I’ve ever felt at the club.”

source asroma.it