Spalletti backs Reds' charge

After watching his side beaten by the Reds at the quarter-final stage for the second campaign in a row, Roma coach Luciano Spalletti feels United have the wherewithal to win this season's Champions League.

The Reds booked a semi-final berth against Barcelona with a 3-0 aggregate victory over the Italians, despite fielding a much-changed side in Wednesday night's second leg.

"We put in a good performance and we're proud of that, but if you look at the track record and the history, Roma aren't at the same level as United," Spalletti said in his post-match press conference.

"I believe United are well-equipped to win the tournament. They have the potential to do so both collectively and individually. We saw this evening that whoever plays for them, they are a strong team."

The 49-year-old Italian admitted that, although his side were hampered by the absence of skipper Francesco Totti, United were worthy winners over the two matches.

"Of course we missed Francesco Totti very much," he said. "Anyone would like to have him in their team. He plays a crucial role for us and is vital to the way we play.

"But to get to this level, a team has to be able to overcome the absence of important players. We must concede that over the two legs United were better than us and deserved their victory."

United's progress would not have been so straightforward if Daniele De Rossi had not blazed a first-half penalty over the crossbar.

The Italian international midfielder waited for an age before hammering a shot into a baying Stretford End, and he conceded that pressure could well have been his undoing.

"It was not a penalty to make it 2-0 in the last minute, but still I think the game would have changed if I had scored," he said. "The first goal was there, eleven metres away from me, but we all know what happened.

"It was a highly-charged moment and probably I had too much time to think before taking it. I've scored penalties in important games like the World Cup final during my career but tonight I was less fortunate."