AS Roma - Manchester Utd.
AS Roma coach Luciano Spalletti is relishing the opportunity to pit his wits against Sir Alex Ferguson as the Serie A side make their first appearance in the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals against Manchester United FC. While Sir Alex has overseen more than 200 European matches, Spalletti, 48, possesses far less top-level experience having risen steadily up the echelons of Italian football. The former Udinese Calcio boss described Wednesday's game as his biggest yet but remains determined to savour the occasion. "Coaching Empoli FC in a promotion play-off was important but somehow I think playing United in a packed Stadio Olimpico beats that," Spalletti said with a smile. "It's an amazing feeling but I'll try to stay calm and enjoy the game." Spalletti's shrewd tactical choices helped Roma end Olympique Lyonnais' 18-match unbeaten home run in the previous round, and after getting the better of Gérard Houllier he now has the Scot in his sights. "Sir Alex is a wonderful coach but there's a difference between him and me: he's won 29 trophies, I've won one Serie C title," Spalletti pointed out. "I'll watch the way he approaches the game, as I always do when I'm up against great coaches, and I'll try to take some tips." He does not, however, want his team to show United too much respect, and is urging a positive approach: "I'd like us to attack more than we did against Lyon. I'm sure United will come at us but we're confident. The Lyon victory has boosted our self-belief." Sir Alex, meanwhile, had equally flattering words for Spalletti, praising him for "creating a system" by operating without a veritable centre-forward. "Big coaches make brave decisions and his decision to play this way was brave," said the United manager. Captain Francesco Totti will again be the furthest forward, supported by wingers Mancini and Taddei. Simone Perrotta, usually employed behind Totti, may drop deeper to cover for the suspended David Pizarro, offering a roving role to Christian Wilhelmsson, while Marco Cassetti deputises for injured full-back Max Tonetto. United have greater injury concerns after Nemanja Vidić (collarbone) and Ji-Sung Park (knee) joined long-term absentees Mikaël Silvestre and Gary Neville on the sidelines. Louis Saha and Darren Fletcher have both travelled despite just recently returning to fitness, and Ferguson hinted the Frenchman may enter the fray in the second period. Ryan Giggs should partner Wayne Rooney in attack, freeing up a midfield berth for Kieran Richardson or Alan Smith. Sir Alex, however, is reluctant to speak about injuries, saying: "Our squad is being tested but we've proved over the last few weeks that those coming in are capable of doing the business." The Premiership leaders hope to repeat their treble achievement of 1998/99 and while Ferguson conceded that the current team has room for improvement, he feels the potential is enormous. "They don't have the overall experience yet but they're young and they have their careers in front of them," he said. "They all want to win trophies and if they start doing it early that'd be fantastic."
Roma: Doni; Marco Cassetti, Cristian Chivu, Philippe Mexes, Christian Panucci; Simone Perrotta, Daniele De Rossi; Taddei, Christian Wilhelmsson, Mancini; Francesco Totti.
United: Edwin van der Sar; Wes Brown, Rio Ferdinand, John O'Shea, Gabriel Heinze; Cristiano Ronaldo, Michael Carrick, Paul Scholes, Kieran Richardson/Alan Smith; Ryan Giggs, Wayne Rooney.
Chelsea FC - FC Valencia
Chelsea FC return to the UEFA Champions League - the pinnacle of their quest to win an unprecedented four trophies this season - with José Mourinho insisting that even if they fall short in all three remaining competitions, he will still finish the campaign a contented manager. "We can win more things but even if we don't, it will be the kind of season where at the end of it I will only have good words for my players. And only a good feeling about my commitment, what I gave and what I did to try and help my team to success," said the Portuguese, who already has the English League Cup under lock and key, ahead of Wednesday's quarter-final first leg against Valencia CF. "In that respect we can all sleep soundly knowing we are giving everything. The problem comes when people think you could do more, or you've slept on what we did or achieved before, but that is not the case." Chelsea are the only side in the last eight who have not appeared in a European Champion Clubs' Cup final, something which has not dissuaded the bookmakers from installing them as favourites to hold the prized silverware aloft in Athens on 23 May. That glamour date is still some way ahead and Mourinho does not expect an easy ride against the Spanish visitors at Stamford Bridge. "Valencia are a team that play very well and who like to play good football," he warned. "They have a lot of solutions and a lot of good attacking players. They have speed down the sides and experience at the back. Their midfield players are very strong defensively." Arjen Robben - who did so much to tilt the balance of the last-16 return match against FC Porto back in Chelsea's favour - has followed Michael Essien on to the absentee list after knee surgery, but Joe Cole is almost ready to return and could have a substitute's role in London. Neither team really impressed at the weekend. Chelsea, who are also in the FA Cup semi-finals, needed an injury-time goal to defeat bottom club Watford FC and remain six points behind Premiership leaders Manchester United FC. Valencia also endured some difficult moments before overcoming RCD Espanyol 3-2 to remain fourth in the Primera División. With David Navarro and Carlos Marchena suspended and leading scorer Fernando Morientes joining Rubén Baraja and Edu among those missing out through injury, Quique Sánchez Flores's options are considerably reduced. The Valencia coach believes two sides of similar strengths and styles will be battling it out for a place in the semi-finals. "There is going to be a lot of play in the middle of the park, and when there are two similar teams like this they do tend to cancel each other out," Sánchez Flores said. "Normally a game like this will be decided on one key incident or a couple of chances here or there. If we score everyone on our bench would be delighted - it would be a major step forward for us in the tie."
Probable teams
Chelsea: Petr Čech; Lassana Diarra, Ricardo Carvalho, John Terry, Ashley Cole; Claude Makelele, Frank Lampard, Michael Ballack, Shaun Wright-Phillips; Didier Drogba, Andriy Shevchenko.
Valencia: Santiago Cañizares; Luis Miguel, Roberto Ayala, Emiliano Moretti, Asier del Horno; Miguel Ángel Angulo, Raúl Albiol, David Albeda, David Silva; Vicente Rodríguez; David Villa.
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