Roma should follow the example of Liverpool if they are to become one of Europe's top clubs, according to club director Francesco Totti.
Although he admits having bad memories of previous meetings with the Reds -- starting with the 1984 European Cup final when he was just seven and already a Roma fan -- and a meeting 17 years later which he played in, and which resulted in Roma being eliminated from the UEFA Cup, Totti says the Premier League club nevertheless remain an inspiration.
"When I hear the name Liverpool, [I think] respect, a big club, a big team, big fans, and a model to follow," Totti toldLiverpool's website. "Despite the negative result, I have nice memories of that game [at Anfield]. The atmosphere, the feeling, the passion of the fans -- it was very impressive.
"Obviously, if I think back to that European Cup final in 1984, it's a bad memory, so we would have probably have avoided such a draw."
Totti will be in the director's box at Anfield on Tuesday night, having brought an end to his playing career spent entirely with the Giallorossi in the summer.
From there, he will admire his former teammates and a certain Egyptian, who will be wearing a red shirt.
