Roma coach Luciano Spalletti is confident his side can overcome the absence of Francesco Totti and beat a Manchester United side he rates as the “best in the world”.

IT may have been unmissable in Manchester but it was ‘unwatchable’ in Rome, at least according to the front page headline in Il Messaggero, the capital’s daily paper, as Italy woke up to its heaviest defeat in nearly 40 years of international football.

Wednesday’s confrontations between Manchester United fans and police inside the Stadio Olimpico have created a “diplomatic issue”, according to the Italian media.

A leading Italian politician has blamed Manchester United fans for the violence that erupted inside the Stadio Olimpico in the Champions League clash with Roma on Wednesday.

UEFA have promised to “seriously consider” Wembley as the venue for the 2010 Champions League final, after the stadium was passed over for 2008 and 2009 finals.

Italy coach John Kirwan took his players to one of the biggest football matches in Italy as part of his preparations for this weekend’s RBS 6 Nations encounter against Scotland.

Lazio won this Champions League tie at the Olimpico stadium in Rome.

An Italian newspaper has said the violence before the Roma-Liverpool UEFA Cup match was the result of premeditated guerilla action.