AS Roma captain Daniele de Rossi has welcomed their draw with Liverpool for the Champions League semifinals.

Roma have been drawn Liverpool in the Champions League semi-finals, in a rematch of the 1984 European Cup decider, which the Reds won on penalties.

“Liverpool have pulled off similar exploits to ours," the midfielder told Roma TV.

“They beat Manchester City, who I thought were the favourites to win the whole thing, and have a Coach who drives me crazy!

“Therefore we're concerned, but that's normal. It was the same with Shakhtar and Barcelona.

“They're a team that play good football, but we're convinced that we'll have chances of our own.

“The match against Barcelona was one that will remain in the minds of the fans, but we're focused on doing well in the derby.

“We knew we were strong and that we'd have absorbed the Coach's ideas, but I didn't think we'd get this far."