Eusebio Di Francesco: 'Roma cannot just focus on Mohamed Salah'

Roma manager Eusebio Di Francesco has warned his players that they cannot focus solely on stopping Mohamed Salah in the second of their Champions League semi-final against Liverpool.

The Egyptian forward, named PFA and FWA Player of the Year, made a telling difference in last week's reverse fixture with two goals and two assists in his side's 5-2 win.

Di Francesco admits that Salah is a game-changing talent, but he insists that Roma have a difference maker of their own in former Manchester City striker Edin Dzeko, who netted at Anfield seven days ago.

"Salah made a difference in the first leg but we cannot change our whole team. We need to have better mechanisms," he told reporters at his pre-match press conference.

"What is important is that Salah is a big player on the counter attacking the spaces but we cannot have three players on him. We need to focus on our rivals but also ourselves.

"I am honoured to coach Roma and I feel responsible. Players have to feel responsible and I hope Dzeko does. I hope he can be decisive like Salah was in the first leg. I am giving him this responsibility."

Roma recovered from a three-goal deficit in the previous round to knock out La Liga giants Barcelona.