- Roma believe they can stop Mohamed Salah because they stopped Lionel Messi
- Italian side came from 4-1 down to dump Barcelona out in quarter-finals
- They travel to Anfield for first leg of semi-final against Liverpool on Tuesday
Roma believe they can stop the free-scoring Mohamed Salah because they stopped Lionel Messi, reveals Kostas Manolas.
The Serie A side overturned a three-goal first leg deficit to dump Barcelona out of the Champions League in the quarter-finals.
And they will be aiming to upset the odds once again when they come up against Liverpool in the semis, with the first leg at Anfield on Tuesday night.
Kostas Manolas believes Roma can stop Mohamed Salah because they stopped Lionel Messi
Liverpool star Salah has scored 40 goals in a stunning debut season at Anfield this year
Manolas, who scored the decisive goal that sent Roma through to the final four, is confident his side can nullify the threat of the 40-goal Salah.
‘We won’t man-mark Salah, because we stopped Barcelona and Lionel Messi with teamwork, so we can stop Salah the same way. It won’t be easy, of course, but we are ready,’ Manolas told La Stampa.
Having stunned Chelsea and Atletico Madrid in the group stage, Manolas credits manager Eusebio Di Francesco with developing a giant-killing attitude within the club.
Manolas celebrates scoring the winning goal as Roma shocked Barcelona in the quarter-finals
‘Our belief this season comes from the philosophy of football that the Coach gives us. Roma must never change their way of thinking, no matter the opponent.
‘Di Francesco is a very European Coach, he always asks us to dominate the game with pressing and intensity.
‘It’s also true that we ought to have another six or seven points in Serie A, but when we play in the Champions League, it does bring something more out of us.’
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