Totti is a symbol of AS Roma.
Roma visit Anfield on Tuesday night for the first leg of their Champions League semi-final against Liverpool. The last time Roma reached the semi-finals was back in 1983-84, while Liverpool have not made the last four for 10 years.
Roma legend Francesco Totti retired at the end of last season after a 25 year career at Roma, during which he played 786 games for the club, scoring 307 goals. And Totti is still very much involved with his club which was as obvious as ever when he joined the squad for their dressing room celebrations after they knocked out Barcelona in the quarter-finals this season.
There are no doubts where his loyalties lie ahead of the Anfield clash. The Italian legend will be rooting for his boyhood club with the same passion that he played with.
He still had some kind words to say about Jürgen Klopp’s Liverpool side, who have blown teams away this season with their intense counter-attacking football.
Totti spoke to Liverpoolfc.com about the semi-final tie, and was keen to highlight Klopp’s work with Mo Salah in particular.
“This season I’ve seen a number of games of Liverpool, especially because Mo Salah is now playing there, I’ve been following it consistently,” Totti said.
“Especially after the draw, over the past few days I’ve been watching their Champions League games and I really think it’s going to be a tough game for both teams.
“To some extent, it surprises me that [Salah] has been doing so well in his first season at Liverpool,” he added.
Totti surely isn’t the only one surprised. After the Egyptian attacker struggled to nail himself in the Chelsea team during his stay there, the conception was that he was slightly flaky and inconsistent. He’s made bits of those conceptions this year.
The Roma legend went on to play tribute to Jurgen Klopp’s role in Salah’s development.
“But, on the other hand, considering the quality of the squad, the coach they have – Klopp, to me, is one of the best coaches in the world – it didn’t surprise me.
“They put him in the condition to express himself at his best.”
The World Cup winner played alongside Salah for two seasons, but the Egyptian forward was never as clinical in front of goal as he has been this season.
Totti was not hesitant to emphasis just how big a club Liverpool are either. When I hear the name Liverpool, [I think] respect, a big club, a big team, big fans, and a model to follow,” he said.
The two sides are both steeped in history, and with a place in the final stake, the atmosphere at Anfield should be electric tonight. Expect to see the Roma faithful create a similarly lively atmosphere at the Olympico in the return leg, too.
