Roma boss Luis Enrique insists he alone makes team selection

AS Roma coach Luis Enrique insists only he will be in charge of selection.

Enrique has clashed with captain Francesco Totti in preseason.

“I am satisfied with the way the team worked in pre-season,” assured Luis Enrique. “We made many steps forward, strengthened the squad by completing it with the players we had planned for. I hope the side can be very competitive, but I can’t guarantee it.”

When asked if Totti would start on Sunday afternoon against Cagliari, the Spaniard stood his ground.

“Francesco cannot be considered a ‘normal’ player, because he scored 207 goals for Roma and is special in everything he does. But I make the decisions. Totti is a player who made Roma history, but I retain the right to substitute him. I could get it wrong or not, but that is my responsibility. Understand?

“I realise there was a radical change and that can always create odd situations. I respect everyone at the club and am happy with all of their work. I cannot control what happens outside of the Trigoria training ground. It worries me and I concentrate only on what I can deal with, which is preparing to face Cagliari and their counter-attacks.”

 

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