Team spirit the key for Roma, says new coach Spalletti

Roma's new coach Luciano Spalletti believes team spirit will be the key to reviving the fortunes of the troubled Serie A side.

The 46-year-old, who guided Udinese to fourth place last season, resigned from the north-eastern club earlier this month before signing a two-year contract with Roma.

He has the task of turning the 2001 Italian champions into contenders again after a miserable season in which they secured Serie A safety only in the penultimate round of matches.

Asked whether he believed the team captained by Francesco Totti was capable of winning Serie A next season, Spalletti replied: "The scudetto is difficult. Besides, it is not the moment to talk about deadlines or objectives for the season.

"A team must have the right mentality. It must be well-balanced and the players have to be willing to work for each other," he told a news conference.

"These are the things that give a squad momentum. Until these are in place, you can't do anything."

Roma fans will hope that Spalletti, who before Udinese had coached Empoli, Sampdoria and Venezia in Italy's top flight, can bring stability to what has become one of the most fraught positions in Italian football.

He is the fifth man to occupy the post since Fabio Capello left to take charge at Juventus a year ago.

Capello's replacement, ex-Parma coach Cesare Prandelli quit before the season began to take care of his sick wife.

Prandelli's successors, former German national team coach Rudi Voeller and ex-Chievo boss Luigi Del Neri, came and then quickly departed, both complaining loudly about the lack of discipline within the squad.

As Roma slid towards the relegation zone, Bruno Conti, a member of Italy's 1982 World Cup-winning side, was drafted in to guide them to safety. Conti is now expected to return to his former role as head of Roma's youth scheme.

Cassano speculation

Spalletti also refused to comment on rumours that one of Roma's strikers, Italian international Antonio Cassano, was poised to follow Capello north to Juventus.

"I don't want to speak about the transfer market at the moment," he said. "Obviously, Cassano is an important player, but it's too early to talk about individuals. There are other key players that I have to get to know."

Asked whether he felt any regret at leaving Udinese, who will enter the preliminaries of the Champions League for the first time next season, Spalletti said: "All I'm thinking about is Roma.

"Udinese have shown in the past that they know how to deal with situations when people move on.

"This (Roma) is a club of worldwide importance, with some very important footballers. I'm proud to be here. If we can rebuild the right spirit here we will get some good results."

Serie B: Promotion play-off final (first leg) Perugia vs Torino - today, 8.30 p.m. Second leg will be played on Sunday.