Roma vs Atalanta preview - Garcia backed by Roma president

Posted Saturday, April 18, 2015 by PA

Roma coach Rudi Garcia goes into Sunday's home game against Atalanta knowing he has the full support of club president James Pallotta.

The Giallorossi have had a difficult few months and fallen out of the title race but Palotta is confident great things are on the horizon for Roma with Garcia at the helm.

Roma are in third place and have a good chance of qualifying for next season's Champions League.

When asked if Garcia will remain in charge, Pallotta said to Sky Italia: "Yes, there's absolutely no way he will leave the club at the end of the season.

"I am confident we will play in the Champions League next season.

"Our project is a long term one and we must find continuity.

"Obviously I'm not satisfied.

"I would like to win many Scudetti and that will happen.

"We are just at the beginning."

Roma have won just two of their last eight league games and only managed a 1-1 draw at Torino last weekend to fall one point adrift of second-place Lazio with eight games remaining.

Second place is important because it would ensure direct qualification for the Champions League.

Lack of goalscoring has been Roma's biggest problem with the Giallorossi having failed to score more than one goal in a league game since February 8.

Atalanta, who occupy the last position of safety, handed former Lazio coach Edy Reja his first win since he took over last month in Sunday's 2-1 triumph over Sassuolo.

The win, Atalanta's first since February 1, lifted the Bergamo side seven points clear of third-bottom Cesena.

"We took an important step against Sassuolo but there is still a long way to go," Reja said.

Atalanta will not be at full strength with defender Giuseppe Biava, midfielder Luca Cigarini and the team's top scorer Mauricio Pinilla, all suspended this weekend.

Roma, who have lost just once at the Stadio Olimpico this season, will not have some of their boisterous fans at the game because the Curva Sud section of the stadium has been closed by the Italian Football League this weekend.

Members of the Curva Sud displayed an offensive banner during a game last month and the partial stadium ban is the punishment.

The hosts are without defender Kostas Manolas and midfielder Daniele De Rossi, both serving a one-match ban.