Roma´s problem is psychological, says coach Spalletti

AS Roma coach Luciano Spalletti admitted Monday that his faltering team's problem is psychological.

Having lost the Serie A title on the last day of last season and reached the Champions League quarter-finals, Roma are in turmoil this term.

They sit one place and one point above the relegation zone in Italy and have lost six of their nine league matches, including their last four.

In Europe they have fared little better, losing two out of three matches, including a home game against Romanian debutants CFR 1907 Cluj.

“Putting fear into the team would be the worst thing one could do,” said Spalletti.

“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,” said the 49-year-old former Sampdoria and Udinese coach.

“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.”

Spalletti has taken an analytical approach to solving Roma's problems, which began early in the season but have since been getting steadily worse, not better.

“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 (where Roma lost 2-0 to Juventus on Saturday) we did well until we conceded a goal. Then in the second half we had many problems due to being trapped in this moment.”

This game could not come at a worse time for Roma against a team that is literally flying.

Chelsea thrashed Sunderland 5-0 at the weekend and went top of the Premier League in England.

They have also won two and drawn one of their first three games in Group A, leaving them four points ahead of Roma.

If Chelsea win and Cluj beat Bordeaux, Luiz Felipe Scolari's team will have qualified for the knock-out stages with two games to spare.

The importance of this match is not lost on Spalletti.

“In my opinion this match with Chelsea is the most important of them all,” said the Italian. “We need to get a result.”

But he is confident that he can drag his team out of the mire: “This moment is no more delicate than the others.

“During my career I've been in many similar situations. At Venezia, at Udinese, at Ancona.

“To get to be coach of Roma you need experience.”