Perrotta rising to Roma challenge

Midfielder Simone Perrotta says winning the FIFA World Cup with Italy has given him "more inner strength" for AS Roma's UEFA Champions League challenge.

More passion
The hard-working Italian international was part of the side that overcame France in the World Cup final in Munich and, as his Roma side prepare to start their UEFA Champions League campaign against FC Shakhtar Donetsk, he is adamant that becoming a world champion has given him even more hunger for success. "Winning the World Cup gives you more inner strength," he said. "Right now I've got enthusiasm to spare."

Appropriate behaviour
However, with great successes come new responsibilities. The former AC Chievo Verona player said that, along with Roma and Italy team-mates Francesco Totti and Daniele De Rossi, he felt he needed to prove himself a champion. "We must all three of us show we are world champions, not just from the point of view of performance, but also behaviour on the pitch," he said.

League form
Roma played some stirring football in the latter part of the 2005/06 Serie A campaign, putting together a record run of eleven successive victories and claiming a UEFA Champions League place following the punishments handed out to Juventus and AC Milan for their part in a refereeing corruption case. "We played together well in the Italian league last season and it's time to show we can do the same in the UEFA Champions League," said the 28-year-old.

Midfield strength
Roma's winning run was all the more remarkable given the absence of out-and-out striking talent in their squad but, even with Mirko Vučinić injured, Perrotta has no concerns about Roma's striking armoury. "Unlike many other teams, we have a midfield that can move forward with attacks and the results last season reflected this," he said. "Moreover, we now have Totti playing in attack."

Shakhtar threat
Another attack-minded midfielder, Anatoliy Tymoschuk, is the man Perrotta will be keen to keep an eye on in the Shakhtar game. Tymoschuk impressed despite Ukraine's 3-0 defeat against Italy at the World Cup and, along with two handy Brazilian team-mates, he could be a menace again tonight. "[Tymoschuk] made a good impression in Germany and will be playing alongside Brazilian Matuzalem, who we all know well," he said. "Not to mention Elano [Blumer], who has just scored twice for Brazil. We will need a strong Roma side on the pitch tomorrow."