Leandro Paredes calls on Roma to be clinical against Astra Giurgiu

28 September 2016 17:33

Roma midfielder Leandro Paredes has called on his team-mates to put Astra Giurgiu to the sword in their Europa League clash on Thursday.

The Italian club are looking for their first win of their Group E campaign having drawn 1-1 with Viktoria Plzen in their opener and go into the game on the back of a 3-1 Serie A defeat to Torino at the weekend.

Speaking in the pre-match press conference Paredes said: "We need to be more clinical and have more confidence in ourselves going forward. If we can improve in these aspects, we can do very well.

"We have to be focused in every match, you never get easy games. We're just thinking about working hard to put in a good performance tomorrow.

"We think we're working well, and we'll have to do so tomorrow.

"We have to get three points, they're very important for us."

Paredes is in line to return to the starting line-up after being a second-half substitute on Sunday.

Roma coach Luciano Spalletti said: "I want to win the game tomorrow so the changes will be made with the aim of getting the win. Otherwise I wouldn't rotate.

"Alisson is a good goalie and I'll play him. There will be other players too that I'd like to play, like Paredes, who I've used less in recent matches. So there will be rotation, yes, but the understudies to 11 wolves are another 11 wolves."

Paredes added that he has no problem with being rotated.

He said: "Of course I'd like to play every game, but we've got a lot of fixtures this season and our midfield is fairly full. Obviously I won't be there every week, but I'm happy to play whenever I'm picked and there'll be an opportunity to get more minutes."

Romanian side Astra are looking for their first points of the group stage after losing their opener 3-2 at home to early group leaders Austria Vienna.

Source: PA-WIRE