Real Madrid will open their Champions League title defense without Cristiano Ronaldo. According to Roma coach Eusebio DI Francesco, Los Blancos will keep winning regardless.
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On Wednesday night, Real Madrid begins their latest Champions League quest with a match against last season’s surprise semi-finalists Roma. The Giallorossi are off to a poor start in Serie A, but that doesn’t mean anything when it comes to the team’s Champions League performances. Roma wasn’t at their best in the domestic league last season either, yet kept scratching and clawing their way past opponents thanks to a relentless team spirit and Eusebio Di Francesco’s clever tactical solutions.
No Real Ronaldo, says Eusebio Di Francesco
Los Blancos will step on the Santiago Bernabeu largely intact, although one key name will be missing – Cristiano Ronaldo. Roma’s manager was asked about it during a press conference and this is what he said:
“Real Madrid will continue to win a lot, they aren’t known as Real Ronaldo,”
Indeed, they aren’t. Real Madrid can count on the services of a young star in the making Marco Asensio, who’s ready for a larger role.
“…Marco Asensio is a player I like very much, he’s the future of Real Madrid.”He can be very good for the team and he expresses himself in matches at a very high level.”
Gareth Bale is there as well. He was waiting for this opportunity ever since he joined the team. He never wanted to play second fiddle and with Ronaldo gone, he doesn’t have to anymore.
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Roma need to fix defensive cracks
Di Francesco was also asked about this season’s expectations and talked about Roma’s defensive frailties.
“Nobody would have asked us last year whether we thought we could achieve what we did,”
“After what has been done, the expectations increase accordingly.
“We have to improve our performance as a result, as we did something extraordinary and that’s what we’re trying to repeat.”
“The defensive aspect is one of my concerns,”
“…our priority at the moment is to solve the problems we’re having at the back.”
Roma has trouble keeping clean sheets, especially on the road. Last season, they conceded in every Champions League away game they played, including four in the quarter-finals against Barcelona and five in the semi-finals at Anfield Road. The Giallorossi have conceded at least twice in their last three Serie A fixtures, which is not a good sign heading into the match with Real Madrid.
