Roma’s match winning hero Kostas Manolas insisted Tuesday’s sensational 3-0 defeat of Barcelona in the Champions League quarter-final was down to the passion of the home support at the Stadio Olimpico.
Manolas added to earlier goals from Edin Dzeko and Daniele De Rossi to complete a stunning turn around, as the Giallorossi overcame a heavy 4-1 first leg loss to eliminate Barcelona on away goals, after the tie finished 4-4 on aggregate.
The victory came against a backdrop of a packed out Stadio Olimpico, and the centre-back insisted that the intense support from the stands meant the capital club were a force to be reckoned with.
“I’m not interested in history, I’m interested in being in the Champions League Semi-Finals after beating the best team in the world,” the Greece international told Premium Sport.
“We came into this off the back of three bad results [a draw against Bologna and defeat to Fiorentina in Serie A, either side of the first leg defeat against Barcelona], we were under pressure but today we believed in ourselves.
“We gave it our all and showed that in front of this crowd nobody can stop us.”
Manolas’ header meant Roma became only the third team to overcome a three-goal first leg deficit and progress, after Deportivo La Coruna and Barcelona themselves.
