The Roma captain has put himself at coach Ranieri's disposal, and could be the team's extra gear in the race for the Scudetto. The coach used the metaphor: "Francesco is like a stem cell for us"
ROME, 25 March 2010 - The dream of being the only Roma player to win the league twice is now becoming a bit more of a real possibility now. He might not have said it, but reading between the lines: Francesco Totti wants a part of the action on Saturday against Inter. The Giallorosso captain, who fronted a conference by the Gemelli Hospital at Rome's Cattolica University along with Claudio Ranieri and club president Rosella Sensi, was hiding nothing. "I'm available if the coach needs me." This was followed by a glance at Ranieri and a knowing smile, which said it all.
Stem Cell — Staying on the subject of medicine, Ranieri used the metaphor: "Totti is like a stem cell for us". This was a clear sign that if the team wants to keep charging ahead, the captain's help will be essential. The fans love him, they've been united in calling for his return for the super clash against Inter. "Saturday's is an important game, the whole of Rome will be watching us. Well, almost the whole of Rome (ed. not Lazio fans)."
From the heart — Totti has been making good progress over the past few days, but whether he'll actually play at the Olimpico remains to be seen. There's no doubt though about his desire to be in the front line as his team take's on Mourinho: "My decision to stay with Roma for life came from the heart. If I had wanted to change teams, I could have easily done it: before I quit, I want to win something big in this shirt". And soon. There's also no question that he's serious, going by his training program: this afternoon Totti will be doing a personal session then some polishing with the team tomorrow. On Saturday we'll see if he'll also be part of the biggest game of the year.
Article by Marco Calabresi - gazzetta.it
Showing posts with label AS Rome. Show all posts
Showing posts with label AS Rome. Show all posts
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
ROMA STADIUM PLANS UNVEILED
(ANSA) - Rome, September 29 - AS Roma on Tuesday unveiled plans to build a new stadium on the outskirts of the Italian capital.
Roma President Rosella Sensi said the idea of the club having its own stadium, instead of renting one from the city council, had ``always been at the centre`` of her late father Franco`s plans, as well as those of another historic club president, Dino Viola.
The 55,000-seater stadium, billed as family friendly and eco-advanced, is expected to be called after Franco Sensi.
Coach Claudio Ranieri said he liked the idea that the so-called `technical area`, where coaches sit, would be inset into the terraces like at Premier League grounds such as Chelsea`s, where he coached for two years. ``You feel like you`re together, a part of the crowd,``he said.
Roma skipper Francesco Totti, who is about to sign a three-year contract extension, said he ``hoped`` to see the new ground finished. ``It looks beautiful. I`d like to tread the turf of such a stadium,`` said the 35-year-old club icon. ``It will be tough for me to play long enough. I hope they get it built fast, he said.
Daniele De Rossi, widely touted to take over Totti`s mantle, said upon seeing the plans: ``You`ll be able to feel the fans living the game with you. Just imagine what it`ll be like having 60,000 Roma fans around you, so close``.
One of the longstanding gripes about Roma`s present home, the 1960 Olympic Stadium, is that the stands are too far back from the pitch to allow fans to make a full connection with the players.
No firm completion date has been set for the ground, which is yet to get full planning approval. The architect, Gino Zavanella, said it would be the first
``eco-sustainable`` stadium, with solar panels and a non-degradable and non-polluting titanium-zinc structure. ``It will be naturally ventilated and the turf will be irradiated,`` he added. Stressing that the stadium will be able to be evacuated ``in five minutes,`` Zavanella said it would have ``spaces set aside for families, children in particular...as well as a museum on the club`s history``.
``This stadium will be alive, on the inside and the outside, and it will continue to provide services to people all week``.
According to media reports the ground will be surrounded by a huge leisure and residential complex including a mall,cinemas, restaurants, bars, a swimming pool and perhaps also a new hotel.
Roma hopes its future home, backed by City Mayor Gianni Alemanno, will generate income comparable with that of the big Premier League or Liga clubs where a family atmosphere has kept hooligans at bay and a range of shops and other facilities have generated income for the transfer market. Mayor Alemanno insisted ``the ground is the club`s right``. He said initial reports from planning agencies had been``positive``.
Roma Administrative Director Cristina Mazzoleni said the club had not yet put a final price tag on the project. She cited construction experts as saying the ground would take ``24-26 months to build, once started``. ``We will try to involve local firms as much as possible,`` Mazzoleni added.
The other Roman club, SS Lazio, is also trying to get away from the Olimpico, which it rents along with Roma, and build its own ground on the other side of the city. But both projects still have to approved. ``If the culture ministry doesn`t say Ok they won`t go ahead,`` Culture Undersecretary Franco Giro said at the
presentation at Rome`s training camp. Giro said he ``knew nothing`` about reports that a Roman villa and necropolis had been unearthed during preliminary digs at the site opposite the Ancient Roman Via Aurelia about 10km from the city centre.
So far the only Italian soccer club to start work on a stadium it will own, rather than rent, is Juventus. Packed with amenities, the 105-million-euro stadium,
already rising from the ashes of the old Delle Alpi ground, is scheduled to open in northern Turin in 2011.
Roma President Rosella Sensi said the idea of the club having its own stadium, instead of renting one from the city council, had ``always been at the centre`` of her late father Franco`s plans, as well as those of another historic club president, Dino Viola.
The 55,000-seater stadium, billed as family friendly and eco-advanced, is expected to be called after Franco Sensi.
Coach Claudio Ranieri said he liked the idea that the so-called `technical area`, where coaches sit, would be inset into the terraces like at Premier League grounds such as Chelsea`s, where he coached for two years. ``You feel like you`re together, a part of the crowd,``he said.
Roma skipper Francesco Totti, who is about to sign a three-year contract extension, said he ``hoped`` to see the new ground finished. ``It looks beautiful. I`d like to tread the turf of such a stadium,`` said the 35-year-old club icon. ``It will be tough for me to play long enough. I hope they get it built fast, he said.
Daniele De Rossi, widely touted to take over Totti`s mantle, said upon seeing the plans: ``You`ll be able to feel the fans living the game with you. Just imagine what it`ll be like having 60,000 Roma fans around you, so close``.
One of the longstanding gripes about Roma`s present home, the 1960 Olympic Stadium, is that the stands are too far back from the pitch to allow fans to make a full connection with the players.
No firm completion date has been set for the ground, which is yet to get full planning approval. The architect, Gino Zavanella, said it would be the first
``eco-sustainable`` stadium, with solar panels and a non-degradable and non-polluting titanium-zinc structure. ``It will be naturally ventilated and the turf will be irradiated,`` he added. Stressing that the stadium will be able to be evacuated ``in five minutes,`` Zavanella said it would have ``spaces set aside for families, children in particular...as well as a museum on the club`s history``.
``This stadium will be alive, on the inside and the outside, and it will continue to provide services to people all week``.
According to media reports the ground will be surrounded by a huge leisure and residential complex including a mall,cinemas, restaurants, bars, a swimming pool and perhaps also a new hotel.
Roma hopes its future home, backed by City Mayor Gianni Alemanno, will generate income comparable with that of the big Premier League or Liga clubs where a family atmosphere has kept hooligans at bay and a range of shops and other facilities have generated income for the transfer market. Mayor Alemanno insisted ``the ground is the club`s right``. He said initial reports from planning agencies had been``positive``.
Roma Administrative Director Cristina Mazzoleni said the club had not yet put a final price tag on the project. She cited construction experts as saying the ground would take ``24-26 months to build, once started``. ``We will try to involve local firms as much as possible,`` Mazzoleni added.
The other Roman club, SS Lazio, is also trying to get away from the Olimpico, which it rents along with Roma, and build its own ground on the other side of the city. But both projects still have to approved. ``If the culture ministry doesn`t say Ok they won`t go ahead,`` Culture Undersecretary Franco Giro said at the
presentation at Rome`s training camp. Giro said he ``knew nothing`` about reports that a Roman villa and necropolis had been unearthed during preliminary digs at the site opposite the Ancient Roman Via Aurelia about 10km from the city centre.
So far the only Italian soccer club to start work on a stadium it will own, rather than rent, is Juventus. Packed with amenities, the 105-million-euro stadium,
already rising from the ashes of the old Delle Alpi ground, is scheduled to open in northern Turin in 2011.
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Totti Helps Heal AS Roma Ills
Francesco Totti has revealed that beating Real Madrid has brought him back to good health.
Despite a bout of flu, the AS Roma captain was instrumental in the Champions_200x300.jpg)
League win on Tuesday.
He said: "I was feeling ill with a high temperature and was actually sick before the match.
"But after the victory, I feel great."
Totti put on his best performance to guide the capital side to an important first-leg victory after struggling in recent games from foot and back strains.
The Giallorossi title challenge has stuttered as a consequence of their top goalscorer's lack of form with two defeats, against Siena and Juventus, in three Serie A games.
Meanwhile, the 31-year-old and teammate Amantino Mancini have patched up their differences after two years of silence.
The Brazilian winger said: "I've always had an understanding with Totti on the field, even when we weren't speaking off it because of our stubborn pride.
This article was featured on SereA.tv. Click here to go directly to the site.
Despite a bout of flu, the AS Roma captain was instrumental in the Champions
_200x300.jpg)
League win on Tuesday.He said: "I was feeling ill with a high temperature and was actually sick before the match.
"But after the victory, I feel great."
Totti put on his best performance to guide the capital side to an important first-leg victory after struggling in recent games from foot and back strains.
The Giallorossi title challenge has stuttered as a consequence of their top goalscorer's lack of form with two defeats, against Siena and Juventus, in three Serie A games.
Meanwhile, the 31-year-old and teammate Amantino Mancini have patched up their differences after two years of silence.
The Brazilian winger said: "I've always had an understanding with Totti on the field, even when we weren't speaking off it because of our stubborn pride.
This article was featured on SereA.tv. Click here to go directly to the site.
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