Liverpool's visit should be a celebration, says Di Francesco
Eusebio Di Francesco has called for calm as the Roma prepare to host the second leg of the Champions League semi-final.
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Eusebio Di Francesco has joined the chorus of voices calling for peace among fans when Rome hosts Liverpool in the Champions League on Wednesday.
The Italian club lost 5-2 in the first leg of the semifinals at Anfield last week in a game that was overshadowed by problems off the field before the start.
Liverpool supporter Sean Cox, 53, was in critical condition after an incident in which the Merseyside police charged two Italian men and detained them in custody.
Since then, the president of Rome, James Pallotta *** The imbeciles "tarnished the reputation of his club, while sports director Monchi urged the audience of the Olympic Stadium to show that they are not violent in the second leg.
"Every fanbase has bad elements. There is always a minority of fans who do these terrible things, "Di Francesco told the media.
" We stand shoulder to shoulder with Sean Cox and his family and we are against any form of violence.
"There are really passionate and decent fans in Rome, but a small minority, the same in England and all over the world, these are the people who can ruin a brilliant sport, and a brilliant game, which we will have tomorrow. 19659022] googletag.cmd.push (function () {googletag.display (& # 39; div-gpt-ad-1471939899593-0 & # 39;);});
"I take this opportunity to make an appeal [against violence]. I hope tomorrow is a celebration, regardless of the outcome."
Roma, who overcame a three-goal deficit in their homeland to knock out Barcelona in the previous round, are trying to reach the final of the main European club competition for the first time since 1984.
Di Francesco: "We are playing a semifinal of the Champions League in front of 70,000 people – you should expect to see a team ready to compete, I want to see the enthusiasm and desire of the players to overcome this challenge." # ASRoma #UCL #RomaLFC pic.twitter.com/XYaJzH79mm [19659035] – AS Roma Español (@ASRomaEN) May 1, 2018