Roma may have suffered a 4-0 home thrashing at the hands of defending champions Internazionale on Sunday, but the Giallorossi did have one reason to be positive after the game.
Captain Francesco Totti made his first start in six months for Roma after being sidelined with a knee injury.
"The good thing is that my knee responded well but this being my first game back, I cannot complain not to have played for 90 minutes," said Totti, who was taken off shortly before the hour mark.
Totti, who had twice recently come on as a substitute, is now hoping he can play for Roma in their Champions League clash against Chelsea on Wednesday.
"I am available for the game at Chelsea," said Totti. "(Coach Luciano) Spalletti will decide whether I will play or not.
"Being able to play every three days allows you to bounce back from defeats quicker.
"It´s going to be difficult against them, but we will try to show our worth."
Totti knows he is returning to a team that has a lot of work to do.
The defeat against the Nerazzurri has left Roma 14th in the table, nine points behind Serie A leaders Inter after seven games.
"The thing that worries us most is the standings," said Totti.
"We didn´t expect to be in that position but we can still have our say.
"We are aware of our own strength and quality. We have the team to bounce back from this difficult situation. We will try to regroup and think just of getting results."
Spalletti, whose team have won just two league games this campaign, tried to play down the margin of Inter's victory.
"The result is not the reflection of what happened on the pitch," said Spalletti.
"We had some moments of distraction and they took advantage and we didn´t. I think it´s an exaggerated result."
But Spalletti was willing to admit he admires the way Inter play.
"Inter at this time are a team that fight, run and play a modern style of football," he said. "Inter played with more calmness than we did."
"The good thing is that my knee responded well but this being my first game back, I cannot complain not to have played for 90 minutes," said Totti, who was taken off shortly before the hour mark.
Totti, who had twice recently come on as a substitute, is now hoping he can play for Roma in their Champions League clash against Chelsea on Wednesday.
"I am available for the game at Chelsea," said Totti. "(Coach Luciano) Spalletti will decide whether I will play or not.
"Being able to play every three days allows you to bounce back from defeats quicker.
"It´s going to be difficult against them, but we will try to show our worth."
Totti knows he is returning to a team that has a lot of work to do.
The defeat against the Nerazzurri has left Roma 14th in the table, nine points behind Serie A leaders Inter after seven games.
"The thing that worries us most is the standings," said Totti.
"We didn´t expect to be in that position but we can still have our say.
"We are aware of our own strength and quality. We have the team to bounce back from this difficult situation. We will try to regroup and think just of getting results."
Spalletti, whose team have won just two league games this campaign, tried to play down the margin of Inter's victory.
"The result is not the reflection of what happened on the pitch," said Spalletti.
"We had some moments of distraction and they took advantage and we didn´t. I think it´s an exaggerated result."
But Spalletti was willing to admit he admires the way Inter play.
"Inter at this time are a team that fight, run and play a modern style of football," he said. "Inter played with more calmness than we did."
Copyright (c) Press Association
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