Panucci 'not searching for alibis'
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Article summary
AS Roma captain Christian Panucci is not making excuses after their UEFA Champions League campaign began with a 2-1 home defeat by CFR 1907 Cluj while Daniele De Rossi knows qualification will now be tough.
Article top media content

Article body
Reverse
All seemed to be going to plan for the 2007/08 Serie A runners-up when Panucci headed them into a 17th-minute lead. CFR were soon level, though, and Panucci was to only survive two minutes of the second half before being forced off with a back injury – and in no time the visitors had gone ahead and were to secure victory on their competition debut.
No alibis
That defeat came on top of a disappointing start to the domestic season for Roma which included a 3-1 defeat at US Città di Palermo on Saturday, and Panucci was forthright. "We are not searching for alibis, it's a delicate period and we have to keep united," he said. "We will be criticised for this performance but it's part of the game. We just need to keep working to find our best form. We are not going through a great period and we pay for every single mistake but we cannot do anything about that. We only have to work hard."
Arduous task
Group A is now a daunting prospect for Roma, quarter-finalists for the last two seasons, with a trip to FC Girondins de Bordeaux followed by a double-header against Chelsea FC. Daniele De Rossi, who made the opening goal for Panucci and worked hard despite injuring his neck at Palermo, is realistic about what needs to be done. "Things are not going the way they should at the moment," he said. "We are having no luck among other things. It's a very difficult period but it will be over very soon, I'm sure. The situation is now a bit complicated and we will have to pick up important results in order to qualify. We are going through a bad spell but we have to remain positive and confident."