Football
Ben Gladwell, Italy correspondent 9y

Roma coach Rudi Garcia defends Francesco Totti attack on Juventus

Roma coach Rudi Garcia says his side will win Serie A this season after leaping to the defence of his captain Francesco Totti.

Serie A football returns this weekend with the controversies of a fortnight ago still not forgotten.

Totti was the most vociferous critic of referee Gianluca Rocchi's performance after Roma were beaten 3-2 by Juventus and his insinuation that Italian referees always favour the Bianconeri did not go down well in Turin.

However, Garcia says Totti has every right to air his views, and that when he talks, people should listen.

"When my captain talks, then he must be respected," Garcia said at a news conference in Rome on Friday.

"He's a great man of football. He spoke the way he did because his values were betrayed and he wanted justice.

"We've seen the game again and the images that the whole world has seen speak for themselves.

"I've got to say I was concerned to see that even the best referee in Italy can suffer so much from pressure."

Although that defeat -- Roma's first of the season -- saw their perfect start to the season end, and Juve pull three points ahead, the French coach is particularly enthusiastic about what he saw at the Juventus Stadium from his side.

The Giallorossi became the first Italian side this season to put a goal past Gianluigi Buffon, leading 2-1 at one stage.

Had the borderline decisions gone their way, they could have found themselves clear at the top instead, and Garcia believes their time at the top will come this season.

"I've been so proud of my players," Garcia said. "They showed personality and it was everything but a defeat.

"It made me realise that we are stronger than Juve and that will eventually come through on the field too.

"I say it in no uncertain terms: we are going to win the scudetto. We can do it."

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