Conti: Liverpool game will be a headline event

AS Roma legend Bruno Conti believes the Giallorossi's meeting with Liverpool in St. Louis on 1 August will be a "headline event" - with both clubs able to sharpen their focus ahead of the new season.

On Wednesday it was announced that the two clubs will face each other in a pre-season fixture in Missouri, the third meeting between the two clubs on American soil in recent years.

Speaking in St. Louis following the game announcement, World Cup winner Conti said he expected a vibrant atmosphere for the contest - which will provide a crucial test for both sides as they build towards the 2016-17 season.

"It will be a headline event, no doubt about it," Conti said. "Speaking about current form, Liverpool had a fantastic run in the Europa League but it ended with disappointment in the final, while Roma come into the game on the back of a superb second half to the season.

"I don't want to bring up old memories, but mentioning Liverpool takes me back to the final that we lost on penalties.

"There's no question these two teams will offer up an entertaining spectacle that will excite fans on 1 August."

Roma have beaten Liverpool the last two times the teams have met in America - both games at Fenway Park. Are you confident the Giallorossi can make it three out of three?

"When you play in pre-season you need to assess a number of aspects and we mustn't forget that it's the Euros this summer so some players won't be on the tour. Underpinning it, however, is a season to plan and we have to give it our all in order to try and build the team's identity ahead of next season."

Does winning games like this in pre-season mean much to the players - or is it just a showpiece for fans?

"These games should always be taken seriously and it's not true that they don't mean anything. As I've said, we'll be in the preparatory stage for an important season – remember that we have to play in the Champions League qualifying rounds too.

"Nobody wants to lose a game of football and these encounters are important because you can make the right assessments on the future."

Both Roma and Liverpool changed managers half-way through the season. How do you think Jurgen Klopp and Luciano Spalletti fared after coming in and do you see any similarities between the two?

"We cannot forget what Klopp did at Dortmund, everything began with his approach to work. He built a squad where everyone was running hard and helping each other out. You can see elements of that at Liverpool as well. Spalletti has done the same thing at Roma.

"You can only achieve certain results if the team is moving in the same direction and physically is in peak condition. Roma and Liverpool are the expressions of the philosophies of the two coaches in the dugouts and what they're trying to communicate to their players every day. An obvious example is the hard work the forwards put in when the opponents have possession. I am sure that Klopp and Spalletti will continue to do great things."

St. Louis has a big Italian community - do you expect they'll all want to be at the game?

"I have no doubts about this and I hope they'll be supporting us at the stadium."

Roma have a very strong following in the United States - do you think that dates back to your time playing?

"It's possible and that's something I noticed during my recent experience with our American owners as well. Hearing Alex Zecca say that his dad loved Bruno Conti, just like our president James Pallotta, well, it always makes you feel good. It means that people here were following football a long time ago as well, especially after our victory at the World Cup in 1982."

Football has never been more popular in the United States. Why do you think it has taken so long for the sport to really establish itself in America?

"Obviously, the sport isn't part of America's DNA but it's getting bigger now. People are analysing football in the States nowadays and this is a crucial factor. You have really good footballers playing here, like Andrea Pirlo and Sebastian Giovinco, and this means there's notable interest around the sport. You can also see the work that they're doing in youth academies."

With such a big country and so many young kids playing the sport, it must surely only be a matter of time before America starts producing some world class players. Is that the reason why Roma have invested time and money into developing the Roma USA Football Academy with multiple clubs?

"Of course, the Giallorossi academies in America want to teach the Roma style of football and spread our working culture. Keeping up to date with software and programmes while trying to develop talent in such a large country is a fascinating project that will definitely bear fruit. I have no doubts that soon there will be another boost to football's development in the United States."

What is the standard of these kids and one day in the future, do you think we'll see one playing in the Roma first team?

"Think about Michael Bradley who came to Italy and then was bought by Roma. American kids need quality work in their youth academies in order to develop technique in all the fundamental areas. As I said, the Americans are really studying the game and travelling around the world to pick up knowledge. This is vital for their development. I think we'll soon see a number of players in Italy, some of them very good."

In your playing days, you went on three tours of the United States with Roma. What do you remember from those experiences?

"I have a lovely memory of playing against the New York Cosmos in 1980 when Franz Beckenbauer and Johan Neeskens were there. Pele turned up for the award ceremony and I made sure that I got a photo with him that I still guard jealously today.

"There was already an interest in football back then in America and there were some incredible players around. Obviously, it was just the beginnings – you'd play on pitches that were intended for other sports and often there were double lines on the playing surface. Francesco Rocca messed up once and went on one of his runs in the wrong direction. They were really nice experiences.

"I tried out a few swings of a baseball bat on those pitches too, as I'd played the sport when I was a kid. I used to be a left-arm pitcher and the Americans were impressed, but I had already opted for football years before."