Enrique delays contract talk

By Football Italia staff

Roma boss Luis Enrique has told the club that he still needs to prove that he deserves a new contract.

The outfit yesterday confirmed that they had proposed an extension, but the tactician insists that such talk can wait.

“I still have a year and a half left on my present deal,” the Spaniard said in his media conference before Saturday’s game against Cesena.

“That’s an eternity in football. I still have so much work to do to illustrate that I should be given a new contract.

“The club’s offer was incredible, but I’ve told them that now is not the right time. After all, I can lose four games in a row and then I’ll be considered an idiot. I’m thinking just of Cesena.”

Roma entertain the relegation-threatened Seahorses at the Stadio Olimpico at 18.00 hours local time on Saturday.

“Cesena have some important offensive potential,” the former Barcelona B boss continued. “They have quality players like Mutu, Eder, Candreva and Parolo.

“It won’t be an easy game. I expect to face a dangerous team, but I want to see a Roma side who returns to playing high rhythm football in order to get back to winning.”

Roma are seventh in Serie A – 11 points behind leaders Juventus after last weekend’s game with Catania was abandoned due to heavy rain with the score at 1-1.

“The weather only interfered with the second half,” he added. “The first half started well, but then we started to make errors.

“We played a mad game, without control.”

Roma are expected to be without influential midfielder Daniele De Rossi against the Stadio Manuzzi minnows.

“I hope he isn’t out for too long, but I do think that he could be ready to return relatively quickly,” Enrique continued.

“I don’t know if he’ll be available tomorrow. He’s suffering with an injury that won’t stop him playing, but one that is causing him pain.

“It’s important that he can work without pain and we need players who are only at 100 per cent. Let’s hope it is nothing serious.”

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