Spalletti ready to face Ferguson

The Giallorossi host the Red Devils in the first leg of their quarter-final in the Eternal City and Spalletti, who did a fine job at Udinese before joining Roma before last season, admitted: "This is the most important game in my career.

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"There was another game, a Serie B relegation battle a few years back, but I believe this match beats that one!"

The appearance of Ferguson at the Stadio Olimpico is one reason why Spalletti is looking forward to the encounter.

"Ferguson is a great coach," he said. "Between me and him, there are 30 trophies that separate us.

"The last trophy I got was a Serie C promotion."

The Giallorossi go into the match on the back of a 1-1 home league draw against AC Milan at the weekend, a result that left second-placed Roma trailing Inter Milan by 20 points.

With their Scudetto hopes dashed, Europe is now the club's top priority and Spalletti is full of optimism.

"I am convinced that we will make life difficult for Manchester," he said. "Whether this will be sufficient, we will have to wait and see.

"We don't have great champions like Manchester have, but we hope to overcome this with team effort.

"If we reason like a team, we behave like one and each player sacrifices himself for his team-mates, we can win."

One champion Spalletti does have is World Cup winner Francesco Totti, Serie A's top scorer this season.

"I prefer Totti to (Manchester United's) Cristiano Ronaldo because I know Totti very well," he said.

"I know everything about him. He has great quality and little defects.

"Ronaldo probably has the same quality but I don't know him."

Totti, who was not recently included on Ferguson's list of most dangerous Roma players when the Old Trafford boss looked ahead to the game, will be eager to show the Scot his talent.

"I know this game means a lot to Totti because this is the city where he was born, this is his all-time club," Spalletti said.

"I think his focus will be on helping this team go far in this competition rather than on personal recognition.

"It seems strange that Ferguson is unaware of Totti's potential."

Despite the challenge that awaits Spalletti and Co, confidence is high.

After a draw at home, the club went to France and won 2-0 over Lyon in the first knockout round, an outcome that has carried them into the last eight of Europe's elite club competition for the first time since 1984.

It was all the more special as they ended Lyon's 18-match unbeaten home record in the Champions League.

"We must believe in our strength," said Spalletti. "My players have plenty of determination to do well in this game.

"Our intention is to win this game. We know we can do more in Rome than what we did with Lyon at home (0-0).

"I know we can do better if we show the same determination that my players displayed at Lyon."

However, a goalless result would still be a positive outcome for Roma, who have not lost in European competition at the Stadio Olimpico since December 2004, when they conceded a 3-0 defeat to Real Madrid.

Roma have conceded just four goals so far in European competition.

"I know that Manchester have a lot of potential up front," said Spalletti.

"They have a strong striking force and it's crucial not to give away a goal in this competition.

"They are very good at counter-attacking and are very fast. We must try to kill their efforts for their fast counter-attacks."

Spalletti also hit out at recent press coverage in England that cast Roma supporters in a bad light.

"What angers me is that they have said that our fans are violent," he said.

"Roma fans are very passionate and very correct, the claims they are making are grave and serious."

Roma will be without suspended midfielder David Pizarro so Spalletti is set to play Christian Chivu alongside Daniele De Rossi in a defensive midfield set-up as part of a 4-2-3-1 formation.

Matteo Ferrari and Philippe Mexes will be at the heart of the defence with Christian Panucci at left back and Marco Cassetti at right back.

Playing behind lone striker Totti will be Rodrigo Taddei, Simone Perrotta and Mancini.

Alexander Doni is set to line up between the posts.