Coach Piacentini insisted on working on the mental side, which is as important as the physical aspect in the playoffs. Roma is heading to Santa Croce for the decider as if they were going to meet them for the first time.

“To be honest, I really believe this is the physolophy to adopt – said the coach – They won one, we won one, to get any hope to go through to the semis we have to start from scratch, at 0-0. Everybody will have to contribute, to play its part. Despite finishing 9th, Rome proved it had the right to feel at the same level as whoever finished above”.