Sometimes a joke helps to ease the tension and is never out of place: «Am I calm? This is a big word, but optimistic yes.” Alberto Aquilani knows that now every match becomes decisive and this one against Palermo at the “Ceravolo” (7.30 pm) is more so than the others. It’s true that there is a difference of around twenty million in wages and that the Sicilians have a different capacity, but after two defeats in a row another slug, with the environment at the limit of protest, is not admissible. And therefore the Roman coach is aware that he has a lot to play for, if not all of it, certainly more than against Padova a week ago.
«We find ourselves in a delicate and unexpected situation, but it is part of football and life so we need to look forward. I always try to put the positive side before the negative and the match against Palermo can be a big opportunity for us”, explained the forty-one year old Roman: “As a footballer I have already experienced these situations many times and if you lose self-esteem there are no possibilities. In moments like this you shouldn’t hide, but continue on your own path.”
Aquilani returns to his place on the sidelines today after serving a one-match suspension. We will only know for sure what this going “forward on one’s own path” means, whether he will continue to propose the same module with two midfielders, or add a third, this will only be known for certain at the time of the warm-up. «There may be some changes, I have made some evaluations. An extra tip with Iemmello? It can be, just as it can be an extra midfielder or defender, however if you lengthen the blanket on one side you shorten it on the other and the important thing is always balance in the 90 minutes.”
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