Roma vs Pescara preview - Roma remain focussed - Andreazzoli

Posted Sunday, April 21, 2013 by PA

Roma coach Aurelio Andreazzoli will not let the exciting prospect of a Coppa Italia final against Lazio distract his players from the task in hand against Pescara.

The Giallorossi completed a 5-3 aggregate victory over Inter Milan to reach the Stadio Olimpico showpiece where, remarkably, they will meet their city rivals for the first time at the final stage.

There are still six games remaining of the Serie A season, though, with a battle against Lazio and Fiorentina for the Europa League places a more pressing concern for Andreazzoli.

He told asroma.it: "What does this final mean for football in the city of Rome?

"When I was appointed as coach I set some goals, and among them was reaching the final, which will be played in our city in front of our fans.

"The fact that it's a derby makes it even more special.

"But we also have other objectives, we don't want to make everything about the Coppa Italia final, as I mentioned.

"If we make that mistake then we end up throwing away everything we've done until now."

Defenders Federico Balzaretti and Nicolas Burdisso are suspended against the league's bottom side, with midfielders Daniele De Rossi, Marquinho and Alessandro Florenzi missing out through injury.

Gaetano D'Agostino, Uros Cosic, Per Kroldrup, Franco Modesto, Luciano Zauri and Antonio Bocchetti are on Pescara's injury list while winger Giuseppe Sculli serves a suspension.

The Delfini have lost 12 of their last 13 matches to prop up the standings and, with nine points separating Cristian Bucchi's men from safety, a swift return to Serie B looks all but confirmed.

Striker Gianluca Caprari has joined Pescara on a permanent deal after helping the club win promotion during a loan spell from Roma, and he is looking forward to meeting some old friends on Sunday.

He told the Corriere dello Sport: "It will be a special day for me because I'll see (Alessio) Romagnoli and Florenzi.

"It's not been an easy year for me. I've struggled a bit compared to last year. We used to play attacking football all the time so it was easier for strikers in front of goal.

"But this year has been less straightforward because we're just staying behind the ball and looking to counter-attack."