Roma Coach Luciano Spalletti doesn't rule out benching Francesco Totti: 'I put results first'.
The Giallorossi recovered both Totti and Daniele De Rossi from injury, but their condition of form still needs to be tested and it's doubtful if they'll start in tomorrow evening's 19:45 game against Real Madrid.
“I'm coaching Roma, not just Totti,” he told AS. “My primary objective is the result and I make my decisions with that in mind, not according to a player's background.
Roma Coach Luciano Spalletti doesn't rule out benching Francesco Totti: 'I put results first'.
The Giallorossi recovered both Totti and Daniele De Rossi from injury, but their condition of form still needs to be tested and it's doubtful if they'll start in tomorrow evening's 19:45 game against Real Madrid.
“I'm coaching Roma, not just Totti,” he told AS. “My primary objective is the result and I make my decisions with that in mind, not according to a player's background.
“My relationship with Totti is fine from my point of view. As for his own viewpoint, you'd have to ask him.
“He's a player who can really switch the light on during the attack. But knowing how to use these qualities depends on the opponents as well.
“He can create a perfect pass, but if the team has to press, then it's hard for him to sprint back 40 metres to do that.
“It depends on the strength of our rivals. Right now Roma cannot base itself on the career of one element. Instead, we have to scrape the bottom of the barrel.
“It's the only way to lift the team again and start thinking differently. Until then, there's no room for feelings, only work, strength, and the game.
“If Totti understood that? I don't know, I just do my job. I have tremendous respect for his history and his qualities, but I think of the results.
“De Rossi? He can be both a midfielder and a defender. He is 31 and is in full maturity. I have many good midfielders available and I have to balance things out.
“As for Mohamed Salah, I'd have been chagrined if he hadn't been available. He has plenty of qualities, he's a very good lad capable of changing the game with a single play. Madrid have several individuals like that.”