Roma visit Manchester United at Old Trafford on 3 November in Champions League Round 4. Amantino Mancini, who started for Roma in the 7-1 defeat in 2007, said Roma can go to Old Trafford to win.
The situation before 3 November
Roma have four points in their opening three league-stage games, while Manchester United have one point fewer. Manchester United lost 4-1 away at Como in their previous European fixture.
Football Italia said Manchester United have not won since September, while Roma have lost only one game this season.
Mancini recalls 2007
Manchester United beat Roma 7-1 in the second leg of the Champions League quarter-finals in the 2006-07 campaign after Roma had won the reverse fixture in Italy 2-1. Mancini started that game for Roma.
Former Brazilian winger Mancini told Fanpage: "Facing Manchester United then was very hard, but also a source of pride, because they had a great team with strong players: Rooney, Scholes, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Giggs. They were so strong. It was not easy to play at Old Trafford. It was a nice experience, part of my career."
Mancini said: "Confidence grew after a 2-1 win at the Olimpico. It was a good moment for us, and the season had been fantastic. We knew we’d face one of the best teams in the world, and it was an enormous satisfaction."
The defeat and its impact
Mancini said: "After 15 minutes, we didn’t know what was happening, and in the end, it really ended badly for us. We didn’t expect such a result; it was a very hard night for all of us."
Mancini said: "The most impressive thing was the pace and intensity they brought to the field. Cristiano Ronaldo was devastating back then; he played as a winger and was physically scary. They had Rooney, who didn’t have the same athleticism as CR7, but he was always in the right place and fundamental to their game. They both impressed me so much."
Mancini said: "That night, I truly saw Cristiano Ronaldo as someone from another planet."
Mancini said: "When we returned to the dressing room, we had little to say. The coach said we had to limit damage because it was a difficult moment. We had to concede as few goals as possible to avoid embarrassment. Unfortunately, it ended as we all know."
Mancini said: "On the way back, after such a defeat, you think about a lot of things, even giving up… The atmosphere is really bad; you don’t sleep well; you’re not hungry."
Mancini said: "It’s very tough, but it’s football; it was our job, and a footballer must have the personality to face and overcome these situations. Just one word: it was a disaster."
Mancini's view on the current teams
Football Italia said Michael Carrick, the current Manchester United boss, scored the first goal for the Red Devils in that 7-1 win.
Mancini concluded: "Both teams are different now. Roma play better football than Manchester United today, and they can go to Old Trafford to win. Right now, Gasperini’s team is in better shape, as they are proving it on the field."
