Pellegrini: We are entering a crucial phase of the campaign

The Giallorossi return to Serie A action against Bologna on Saturday afternoon, before travelling to Barcelona for the first leg of the Champions League quarter-finals.

The two games kick off a spell that will have crucial implications across the board.

“You have to be disciplined: we always try to take things game by game,” Pellegrini said. “While the Champions League gives us the chance to achieve some important things, there is always Serie A to think about too – it’s hugely important for us. We remain focused on Bologna, and only after that we will think about Barcelona.”

He added: “We are heading into a 20-day period that will have a decisive impact on our season. We have to be focused.”

The games against Barcelona are understandably the ones on every fan’s lips, as Roma prepare to test themselves against one of the best sides in Europe.

“They are the favourites, but football is great because the ball is round,” Pellegrini said. “We will go there with the knowledge that they are strong side but so are we, and we will try to do the best we possibly can. We aren’t going there as the beaten side.

“Other than [Lionel] Messi I admire [Sergio] Busquets, who does a lot of the work you don’t see but does it extraordinarily well. I do not know if he will be able to play, and if it turns out he isn’t able to I wouldn’t be too upset! I love him as a player.”