By Richard Bailey Last updated: 3rd November 2008
Spalletti: Looking to turn things around at Roma
Roma coach Luciano Spalletti has declared that his side's poor form is psychological.
Spalletti saw his side slip to their fourth defeat in a row on Saturday when they lost 2-0 to Juventus.
Roma were last season's runners-up in Serie A, while also progressing to the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League. However, the club currently occupy the last remaining relegation place in Serie A with just seven points from a possible 27.
It seems the club have taken their dismal league into the Champions League. Roma have lost two out of their three matches to date, including an embarrassing home defeat to CFR Cluj.
If the Italians lose to Chelsea on Tuesday then they may not even have Uefa Cup football to fall back on.
Spalletti insists he knows what he has to do and says that he will draw on his experiences with former clubs Udinese and Sampdoria.
He said: "Putting fear into the team would be the worst thing one could do. In this contest we have to be strong because you have to make simple situations seem difficult and in difficult ones you have to be realistic and make them seem easy.
"It's a psychological problem. You need to show the lads what they've done well. Then look to reinforce the concepts that they've been developing over the last few games. And then look to maintain their self-esteem in the same way."
Tough situation
Roma began the season poorly and have steadily seen it get worse but Spalletti is philosophical about the situation.
He said: "Throughout the history of any work people have found themselves in difficult situations regardless of all the components wanting to do well for the cause.
"This also happens abroad. As I said before, these difficulties are particular and are more difficult to manage.
"In Turin (when Roma lost 2-0 to Juventus) we did well until we conceded a goal. Then in the second half we had many problems due to being trapped in this moment."
In Chelsea, Roma face a team who are currently at the top of their game. New manager Luiz Felipe Scolari has his side playing attractive attacking football and they sit at the top of Group A.
If Chelsea do beat Roma and Cluj defeat Bordeaux then the English will progress to the second round with two games remaining. Spalletti knows how tough the match will be.
He added: "In my opinion this match with Chelsea is the most important of them all. We need to get a result."

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| Time | Fixture |
|---|---|
| Saturday 21st November | |
| Italy Serie A | |
| 17:00 | Bologna vs Inter Milan |
| 19:45 | Fiorentina vs Parma |
| Sunday 22nd November | |
| Italy Serie A | |
| 14:00 | AC Milan vs Cagliari |
| 14:00 | Livorno vs Genoa |
| 14:00 | Napoli vs Lazio |
| 14:00 | Palermo vs Catania |
| 14:00 | Roma vs Bari |
| 14:00 | Sampdoria vs Chievo |
| 14:00 | Siena vs Atalanta |
| 19:45 | Juventus vs Udinese |
| Saturday 28th November | |
| Italy Serie A | |
| 17:00 | Udinese vs Livorno |
| 19:45 | Genoa vs Sampdoria |
| Sunday 29th November | |
| Italy Serie A | |
| 14:00 | Atalanta vs Roma |
| 14:00 | Bari vs Siena |
| 14:00 | Cagliari vs Juventus |
| 14:00 | Chievo vs Palermo |
| 14:00 | Inter Milan vs Fiorentina |
| 14:00 | Lazio vs Bologna |
| 14:00 | Parma vs Napoli |
| 19:45 | Catania vs AC Milan |
| Time | Result |
|---|---|
| Sunday 8th November | |
| Italy Serie A | |
| Inter Milan 1 - 1 Roma | |
| Udinese 0 - 1 Fiorentina | |
| Parma 2 - 0 Chievo | |
| Lazio 1 - 2 AC Milan | |
| Genoa 4 - 2 Siena | |
| Cagliari 2 - 0 Sampdoria | |
| Bologna 3 - 1 Palermo | |
| Bari 1 - 0 Livorno | |
| Saturday 7th November | |
| Italy Serie A | |
| Atalanta 2 - 5 Juventus | |
| Catania 0 - 0 Napoli | |
| Sunday 1st November | |
| Italy Serie A | |
| Palermo 0 - 0 Genoa | |
| Siena 1 - 1 Lazio | |
| Sampdoria 0 - 0 Bari | |
| Roma 2 - 1 Bologna | |
| Livorno 0 - 2 Inter Milan | |
| Fiorentina 3 - 1 Catania | |
| Chievo 1 - 1 Udinese | |
| Cagliari 3 - 0 Atalanta | |
| Saturday 31st October | |
| Italy Serie A | |
| AC Milan 2 - 0 Parma | |
| Juventus 2 - 3 Napoli | |
| Pos | Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Inter Milan | 12 | 29 |
| 2 | Juventus | 12 | 24 |
| 3 | AC Milan | 12 | 22 |
| 4 | Fiorentina | 12 | 21 |
| 5 | Sampdoria | 12 | 21 |
| 6 | Genoa | 12 | 20 |
| 7 | Parma | 12 | 20 |
| 8 | Cagliari | 12 | 19 |
| 9 | Bari | 12 | 18 |
| 10 | Napoli | 12 | 18 |
| 11 | Palermo | 12 | 16 |
| 12 | Chievo | 12 | 15 |
| 13 | Roma | 12 | 15 |
| 14 | Udinese | 12 | 15 |
| 15 | Bologna | 12 | 12 |
| 16 | Lazio | 12 | 11 |
| 17 | Atalanta | 12 | 9 |
| 18 | Livorno | 12 | 9 |
| 19 | Catania | 12 | 8 |
| 20 | Siena | 12 | 6 |
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Barca were stunned by a late leveller, Gers' match was abandoned while Inter march on in Serie A.
Gorgeous QPR fan Katie Moran was strutting her stuff in the Soccer AM studios this week.
Inter were held at home, AC Milan climbed up to third as Sampdoria lost at Cagliari and Fiorentina beat Udinese.
AC Milan vice president Adriano Galliani insists owner Silvio Berlusconi is not looking to sell the club.
Milan have signed Ghana Under-20 star Dominic Adiyiah from Norwegian club Fredrikstad.
Liverpool defender Andrea Dossena says he is looking to leave Anfield in January and return to Italy.
Juventus smashed five past Atalanta to strengthen their hold on second place, while Catania held Napoli.