The Eternal giants make their European bow this year in relatively modest fashion at the third qualifying stage of the second-tier competition.It is something of a comedown for a side used to competing against the continent's best in the UEFA Champions League.
But Spalletti insists that does not mean they are taking the competition lightly.
"The first quality you need in football is absolute respect," he told La Gazzetta dello Sport. "We must impose our superiority.
"Gent have an ordered team that know their way around the field. They play compact formations and leave no spaces.
"We must be good, but we can't promise anything - just willingness to sacrifice, professionalism and hard work."
The first leg on Thursday night had to be switched to the Stadio Olimpcio by UEFA, while the return in Belgium will take place on August 6.
An aggregate victory over last year's fourth-placed Belgian Jupiler Pro League side will see the Giallorossi through to the Play-off Round where they will join Genoa and city rivals Lazio.
UEFA Europa League 2009-10
Third Qualifying Round
Thursday 30 July
Roma v Gent (1945)
Thursday 6 August
Gent v Roma (1930)
[Full Draw]
Source: Sporting Life
No comments:
Post a Comment