PHOTO: AFP

Roma were ripped apart 1-7 at Old Trafford in the quarter-final tie.

Today, the teams meet again in the first-round group stage at the same venue, and Totti warned United manager Alex Ferguson: 'I'm coming to get revenge.'

He told The Sun that last season's defeat was the worst of his career.

The 31-year-old forward revealed that the Italian side have been thinking about their return to Old Trafford since the two teams were paired in Group F.

He said: 'We want a great and beautiful revenge. We have all been thinking of the game after what happened last year at Old Trafford. It was a complete disaster.'

He admitted that his team were complacent after winning the first leg 2-1, and that Roma's capitulation took him a long time to get over.

'I felt gutted and depressed,' he said. 'Losing in the way we did was hard to take. We were convinced we would go through to the semi-finals.'

This time around, he reckons it will be a different story.

'Now, Roma are a cynical team, a very competitive one, a very strong side that could go all the way,' he said.

'We are among the favourites, and rightly so.'

Ferguson has already warned his players to brace themselves for the Totti revenge mission.

He said: 'Roma are really looking forward to this game. The talk in Italy has been that they are doing everything to win this game after last season's humiliation.

'They see that as a big motivation for them, and the players will be revved up for it.

'Roma can be difficult to play against, and you have to be really alert at the back because you know Totti can produce a pass.

'He has Cantona-like status with their fans. Without question, he's the top man.'

Eric Cantona was a former United captain who enjoyed cult status among the Red Devils' fans.

Roma have made a strong start to the Serie A season. They are third in the table after six matches.

But they were mauled 1-4 by Inter Milan on Saturday, after playing with 10 men for most of the match.

But that result was dismissed by midfielder Simone Perotta.

He said: 'Of course we're not afraid of United. We have a very strong side.

'This is a new year. We know what to expect and we have to show we are capable of competing.

'The result against Inter was a bad one but we were a man down, so it was difficult.

'We are going to Manchester, and I am certain we will play with the confidence of the great team we are.'

United will hope the memory of last season's goal spree will spur on their attack.

They are enjoying a five-match winning sequence in the Premier League. But four of those were by 1-0 margins.

They also enjoyed some good fortune in beating Chelsea 2-0 in the other game.

All things point to there not being another 7-1 scoreline today.

United have scored only eight goals in 10 competitive matches this season.

Wayne Rooney, fit again after recovering from a broken foot, has yet to get off the mark.

Cristiano Ronaldo scored the winner in United's 1-0 victory at Sporting Lisbon in the first Champions League game, and again on Saturday against Birmingham in the Premier League.

He believes it is just a matter of time before the English champions hit top gear.

'Our good football is coming,' he said on United's website. 'We have great players at the club and great staff, and will improve.'

United will be without first-choice goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar. The Dutchman hurt his toe on Saturday, and was replaced at half-time by Tomasz Kuszczak.

Roma are missing defender Christian Panucci after he injured his back against Inter. Winger Rodrigo Taddei and defender Marco Cassetti are also ruled out by injury.

Despite last season's result, Ferguson said: 'I'd settle for a 1-0 now. Any more 1-0 wins, and '1-0 to United' will become a regular chant!

'Last season's win was the most emphatic I've ever had in Europe, but it was a one-off.'

REUTERS

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