AS Roma vs FC Shakhtar Donetsk Preview - Ranieri: I have the backing

Posted Wednesday, February 16, 2011 by PA

Roma coach Claudio Ranieri believes he has the full backing of his players ahead of the Champions League last 16 clash with Shakhtar Donetsk.

Reports in the Italian press claimed there is a division in Roma's changing room after their recent disappointing results that have severely dented the Giallorossi's Scudetto ambitions.

"The coach is like the husband, he is the last to know," Ranieri said in a press conference.

"But this is just Roman gossip done for the love of the team.

"I always have enthusiasm because the players give it to me. I asked my players that if I was the problem then I would leave but they said no.

"We want to fight and we will do so until the end."

Roma fell 5-3 at Inter Milan before conceding a 2-0 defeat to Napoli on Saturday.

The result dropped Roma to eighth in the standings, 13 points behind Serie A leaders AC Milan.

Roma's main focus now will be on Europe's elite club competition but the Giallorossi are well aware they will have to raise their game if they wish to avoid another upset.

"This is a difficult season," Ranieri said. "But we have to think of tomorrow's game and make amends for our defeat at the weekend.

"We have struggled defensively and this is something we have to improve on.

"I expect a beautiful game tomorrow against a very good side.

"Shakhtar are a great team and those that thought that this was a good draw for us will no doubt reconsider."

Ranieri is set to hand Francesco Totti a start after the captain came off the bench against Napoli.

Totti will partner Jeremy Menez and Mirko Vucinic in Roma's attack with the team's top scorer Marco Borriello sidelined with a muscular injury.

Shakhtar Donetsk coach Mircea Lucescu has warned Roma they are ready to cause an upset at the Stadio Olimpico.

The Ukrainian champions, who have been on their domestic winter break since November, will make their first appearance in the last 16 of the competition tomorrow.

The last time both sides met was in the 2006-07 group stages and Shakhtar conceded a 4-0 defeat in Rome.

Lucescu believes they learned from those mistakes.

"The Roma fans create a certain pressure on opponents, but also on their own team," he said.

"I am sure that what we learned from our previous meeting will help us this time.

"Also the difference in class between football in eastern and western Europe is narrowing.

"Many talented players have come to the east."

Shakhtar centre-back Olexandr Kucher will miss the clash because of a knee injury but could recover for the return leg on March 8.