Capital outfit Roma will welcome back Brazilian winger Rodrigo Taddei for Saturday's Serie A clash at Palermo.The midfielder has been out of action for the past five months with muscle injuries, but is set to feature in the game at La Favorita.
"I feel good," said Taddei. "I have returned to train with the group and to be able to do that after being out of action for some time gives me great joy."
Roma could only manage a 1-1 draw against Napoli in their Serie A opener and Taddei expects a tough match against the Sicilians.
"This will be a difficult game," said Taddei. "We have to concentrate and try to do what the coach wants us to do.
"Our aim is to clinch three points."
The Eternal City giants, who start their Champions League quest next week against Romanian outfit Cluj, are still without captain Francesco Totti.
The Giallorosso playmaker recovered from a knee injury only to sustain a muscle problem in training this week.
First-choice goalkeeper Alexander Doni is also struggling with a knee problem and is unlikely to recover in time for Saturday's clash.
Brazilian goalkeeper Artur should replace Doni and make his Serie A debut.
The Palermo players go into their first home game of the season looking to impress new coach Davide Ballardini.
A 3-1 defeat at Udinese in their opening match brought an end to Stefano Colantuono's spell in charge of the Sicilians, with Palermo president Maurizio Zamparini replacing him with former Cagliari coach Ballardini.
Zamparini admitted appointing Ballardini could backfire.
"I don't know if this will be a successful move but I took the decision in the spur of the moment," he said.
"After the defeat in Udine, I had a meeting and I wasn't convinced by the coach and his staff.
"I take full responsibility for this coaching change and I ask the fans to be close to the team, which is a strong side."
Taddei believes the arrival of Palermo's new coach will make Roma's task even harder.
"I think Palermo players will have an extra motivation to show their new coach their value," he said. "We have to be prepared to battle for 90 minutes."
Despite that opening-day loss to Udinese, Ballardini is upbeat about his team's chances.
"I think I have inherited a team that is in good condition," he said. "I am confident we can do well, starting on Saturday."
The good news for the hosts is that goalkeeper Marco Amelia has overcome the back injury which ruled him out of Italy's World Cup qualifiers against Cyprus and Georgia.
Striker Davide Succi, who joined Palermo from Ravenna this summer, is expected to make his top flight debut this weekend and partner Fabrizio Miccoli in attack.
by espnstar.com
No comments:
Post a Comment