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Totti rallies Roma troops Monday 3 March, 2008

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Francesco Totti has issued a rallying cry ahead of the Roma’s Champions League game with Real Madrid on Wednesday.

Commenting after his side’s emphatic 4-0 win against Parma, Er Pupone told journalists that he was ready to make his mark in Madrid.

“I have already scored a historic goal at the Bernabeu and I am hungry to score another,” he roared.

Totti scored the winner for La Magica in Madrid six years ago and with morale high after the team’s 2-1 win over the Merengues on 19 February, the talismanic No 10 is in confident mood.

“We simply need a game from Roma. We want to win everything and we will never give up,” he asserted.

The Giallorossi’s recent performances at Inter and at home to Parma have been inspired by their captain’s return to form, which has seen him score two fantastic goals in his last two games.

Coach Luciano Spalletti also has cause to be optimistic as midfielder Claudio Pizarro, who scored in the first leg, and defender Juan return from injury.

Pizarro looks set to recover from a muscle problem in his thigh while Juan still has a niggle in his calf but is expected to travel with the team to Madrid.

Meanwhile, Real ended their terrible run of three consecutive defeats by beating Recreativo Huelva 3-2 on Saturday, but are in the thick of an injury crisis, which could cost them against Roma.

Ruud Van Nistelrooy and Arjen Robben will be missing from the starting line-up as the Champions League music resounds around the stadium on Wednesday evening.

CLAUDIO PIZARRO?! Good old channel 4.