Enrique calls for players to show right attitude

19 November 2011 15:46

Roma coach Luis Enrique has called on his players to demonstrate the right attitude in order to overcome unfancied Lecce on Sunday.

Roma have struggled recently in the league and sit seventh, seven points behind joint leaders Udinese and Lazio, their capital-based neighbours.

While often dominating possession, Roma have struggled to create and indeed finish off chances, dropping many points they were expected to pick up.

"I expect three points against Lecce but only if we do the maximum. Without the right attitude, the hunger and desire to win we struggle a lot," said Enrique.

"Lecce have an interesting team and strikeforce, they only have eight points in the league but I've seen them play and if we're not at 100 percent it will definitely be difficult for us."

Enrique has had to deal with many unhelpful rumours since he took over at Roma at the start of the season.

Apart from claims he fell out with emblematic club captain Francesco Totti, now there are rumours the players are unhappy with him.

"I don't see any unhappiness but you'd have to ask the players," said Enrique.

"I see a team that is training hard and I'd like them to train even harder but that's my job."

Enrique will have to do without gritty Argentina centre-half Nicolas Burdisso for the rest of the season after the 30-year-old suffered a horror injury on international duty against Colombia.

But the Spanish coach believes he has the squad to cope.

"I'm really sorry for Burdisso but these things happen and it's a shame for the team because he's a leader," he said.

"We're prepared to keep going with the rest of the squad. I hope he gets better as soon as possible.

"This squad is big enough to cope with the situation. A club like Roma is always looking at the transfer market to see what could happen but I'm calm, my job is to improve this team."

Source: AFP