Totti omitted from Roma squad for Champions League clash
Totti is still struggling with a thigh injury
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Monday, 07, Apr 2008 09:28
Francesco Totti has been left out of the Roma squad to face Manchester United in the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final.
The Roma captain has been out of action since picking up a thigh injury against Cagliari at the end of March.
Totti missed the first leg at the Stadio Olimpico last week and Roma struggled to offer much of a goal threat in his absence.
The 31-year-old is Roma's top goalscorer this season with 17 goals from 31 games. Mirko Vucinic is likely to continue to deputise for him as he did in the first leg.
Roma coach Luciano Spalletti had hoped on Saturday that Totti would be able to play some part in the game, after being told he only needed a short period of rest when he originally injured his leg.
Totti's omission from the squad list submitted to Uefa on Monday suggested that the world cup winner will again be a spectator.
Spalletti said: "I don't think he will make it. Of course I would like to have a player like Totti available."
However, the Italian side have been boosted by the news that midfielder Alberto Aquilani has been passed fit to play in the match at Old Trafford.
United lead the tie 2-0 following the first leg in Rome last week thanks to goals from Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney.
The winners of the tie will face either Schalke 04 or Barcelona in the semi-finals - the Catalan club currently lead that tie 1-0 heading into the second leg at the Nou Camp.