AS Roma vs Sampdoria preview - Totti rues "negative year" - 7M sport

AS Roma vs Sampdoria preview - Totti rues "negative year"



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Posted Sunday, May 22, 2011 by PA

AS Roma vs Sampdoria preview - Totti rues

Roma captain Francesco Totti has spoken of his disappointment regarding his team's season ahead of the final Serie A game against relegated Sampdoria.

Last weekend's surprise 2-1 defeat at Catania ended Roma's hopes of securing Champions League football.

The result dropped the capital club five points behind fourth-placed Udinese and left them still needing a point to qualify for the Europa League.

"It has been a difficult campaign which has all but ended in disappointment," Totti said.

"We started as one of Inter Milan's main rivals for the Scudetto but we have been inconsistent in all competitions.

"Even with the coaching change, our form has been up and down.

"It has been a negative year."

Vincenzo Montella replaced Claudio Ranieri at the helm earlier this year but has failed to lead the Giallorossi to a top-four finish.

The former Roma striker is expected to leave this summer with the club currently in talks with Chievo coach Stefano Pioli.

In the meantime, the Giallorrossi will look to end an under-par campaign on a high note.

Roma beat Lazio 2-0 in the Eternal City derby on March 13 but, since then, Montella's side have mustered just two victories in eight games.

The Giallorossi stand sixth but Totti is aware if results go against them they could slip down to seventh come Sunday evening.

Roma lie three points clear of Juventus, who hold a better head-to-head record.

Juve host Napoli in their final game.

"We must end the campaign in the best possible way to at least take the point that will allow us to finish sixth," Totti said. "We cannot make any mistakes on Sunday."

Rivals Sampdoria became the third and final team to be relegated from Serie A after last weekend's 2-1 defeat to Palermo.

After eight consecutive seasons in Italy's top flight, few could have predicted the Genoa outfit would be demoted to the second tier.

Samp were ninth in the standings earlier this year before deciding to sell their top scorer Giampaolo Pazzini to Inter in the winter transfer window.

Pazzini was the second big name to leave the Genoa outfit in January following Antonio Cassano's move to AC Milan.

After their departures, Samp won just two and lost 12 of their next 17 league games.

"A series of errors were made and they have to be recognised," said Sampdoria vice-president Edoardo Garrone.

"We take responsibility, but also reaffirm our commitment to Sampdoria, which remains unchanged."

Alberto Cavasin's Samp have mustered 36 points in 37 games this season.



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