AS Roma captain Francesco Totti has warned Manchester United
coach Alex Ferguson not to underestimate him when their two sides
play the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final next
week.
The 30-year-old striker, who is revered by many Italians as the
country's best footballer, was stung when Ferguson forgot to name
him as one of the players his side would need to watch out for at
Rome's Olympic Stadium on Wednesday.
"Ferguson, you will learn who Totti is. He will see personally.
I hope to make him remember my name," Totti told Italian satellite
broadcaster SKY.
Before this season, Roma had never reached the knockout phase of
the Champions League, but they pulled off a surprise 2-0 win over
Olympique Lyon in the last round to set up the clash with the
Premier League leaders.
"We are coming into the match in the right condition at the best
possible moment, and we will try to reach another important
objective," continued Totti, who is the leading scorer in Serie A
this season.
"To have got to this point after so many years is a great
achievement, but we don't want to stop here because there are even
bigger satisfactions further on in the competition."
Totti signed off by saying he would never consider leaving Roma
to play in England.
"I've never liked English football, even if there are some great
players there. I don't like England either because the weather is
gloomy," he said.
(China Daily via Reuters April 2, 2007)