Radja Nainggolan isn’t concerned about pressure on Roma but he does believe their underdog status in Europe may help.

The Giallorossi have begun their Champions League campaign in style, thanks to last night’s 5-1 win over CSKA Moscow.

Radja Nainggolan isn’t concerned about pressure on Roma but he does believe their underdog status in Europe may help.

The Giallorossi have begun their Champions League campaign in style, thanks to last night’s 5-1 win over CSKA Moscow.

Being newcomers to the competition has helped build a sense of camaraderie and calmness into the side, according to their versatile Belgian.

“When we play against Empoli I think everyone expects us to win,” Nainggolan has commented to Roma Radio today.

“In the Champions League, we’re outsiders, but this doesn’t make us nervous, we remain calm.

“We give our best game in and game out, and with the victory last night, our faith will only grow.

“I was very calm and I knew that I had to avoid all the outside distractions and realise that, in the end, this is just a game like any other one I’ve played in.

“We began strongly and we did a lot of the first half before dropping in the second half and saving our strength for Sunday.”

Asked about his strength at playing with a diverse cast of characters, Nainggolan was quick to praise a former teammate.

“We lost an important player in [Mehdi] Benatia, who played his position with toughness, but in attack we’ve got plenty of strong players.”

Following the 5-1 demolition of CSKA midweek, Roma welcome Nainggolan’s former side Cagliari to the Stadio Olimpico on Sunday, but the pressure to keep on winning isn’t a burden.

“In Serie A, people say that we’re supposed to do better than last year. We can definitely do better, but we have other competition now.

“We’re never going to win all 38 games, but I do think that we have the possibility of remaining a central force in the championship.”

Asked about Scudetto rivals Juventus and their 102 point tally at the end of last season, the midfielder remained optimistic that Roma will fight on.

“It is good [that it’s unlikely to be repeated] because last year when we were behind Juve at nine point, we already that it was impossible to catch them and we just dropped.”

As the season continues to unfurl, Nainggolan revealed what would make him happy at the end of the season.

“Winning at least one trophy.”

Byrob

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