AS Roma vs AC Milan preview - Garcia focusing on the future

Posted Friday, December 19, 2014 by PA

Roma coach Rudi Garcia wants to leave a controversial week behind him and guide his team to victory at home against AC Milan on Saturday.

Garcia was handed a two-match touchline ban by the Lega Serie A for "aggressive and intimidating conduct" towards a steward after Sunday's heated encounter in Genoa.

Garcia has denied accusations that he attempted to slap a steward and has launched an appeal to have the punishment overturned.

"I will wait for Friday's appeal," Garcia told the Italian media. "I will fight to clear my name.

"It seems strange that I've been judged and punished with a two-match touchline ban for a comment made by someone who claims to be a steward.

"It's something unheard of."

Roma are second in the standings and will need to claim their 12th league victory against Milan in order to cut the gap with Serie A leaders Juventus to just one point.

Juve beat Cagliari 3-1 in Sardinia on Thursday to move four points clear of Roma.

"Against AC Milan, we need to show the same determination that we displayed in our 1-0 triumph at Genoa," Garcia said. "We know Milan is a good side but this is our last game of the year and we want three points."

Garcia, whose side is unbeaten at the Stadio Olimpico in Serie A, has warned his players they wil have to keep a close eye on former Roma forward Jeremy Menez.

The Frenchman, who spent three seasons with Roma before moving to Paris Saint-Germain in 2011, joined AC Milan this summer.

Menez is Milan's leading scorer and struck his eighth goal of the campaign in last weekend's 2-0 triumph over Napoli.

"He is a talented player," Garcia said of his compatriot. "He is unpredictable.

"We will have to limit his game."

Milan are 11 points adrift of Roma but Filippo Inzaghi's side has collected seven points of a possible nine in their last three league games to climb to seventh place.

The hosts will be without defender Davide Astori and midfielder Miralem Pjanic through suspension but are hoping that midfielder Jose Holebas will have his one-match suspension lifted on appeal.