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Dzeko: 'Roma don't look like Scudetto winners, my fault if I don't score'
With Roma mere hours away from a do-or-die Champions League home game against BATE Borisov at the Stadio Olimpico, former Manchester City striker Edin Dzeko was very honest both about his profligate streak in front of goal and his team's recent troubles. The 29-year-old has only netted three times in thirteen Serie A appearances.
"The season is still long," Dzeko told the Gazzetta dello Sport, "we're close to ours first seasonal objective, that is to say qualifying for the Champions League second round".
Thoguh the Giallorossi could go through with just a draw, they need to hope that Barcelona don't do Bayer Leverkusen any favours, and that there are no repeat performances of last week's 2-0 home collapse against Atalanta, or their humiliation at the hands of Group E leaders Barcelona.
"I know this team is strong enough to win every game, but at the moment that's not the case, so obviously I'm not happy for myself or for the team because we deserve more. We need to accept criticism.
"That said, there's no doubt that if we played like in our last two matches we won't win the Scudetto, but we're better than that."
The Bosnian international was, however, also critical of the Roman ultras, who have been refusing to turn up to games due to a long-standing feud with new owner James Pallotta.
"In order to win something we need our fans behind us, we saw that against Juventus and Barcelona, when the Olimpico was full. It's sad to see it empty".
The Bosnian international then turned to his difficulties finding the net for his new club. Having struggled to do the same in his first season at Manchester City, Dzeko proceeded to find the net 14, 14 and 16 times in his three successive Premier League campaigns.
"It's my fault if I don't score, it's got nothing to do with the others.
"This is my job, I know I could have done better on a few occasions. For example, in the last game [against Torino], I should have scored to make it 2-0 and put an end to the game, but I didn't and we ended up giving away a penalty [they ended up drawing 1-1]".
"If you're a good player you're always good, you need to score no matter what the formation".
"I'm optimistic though, I'm sure the goals will come and the team will improve even more. This could be the turning point for us".
Let's hope so Edin, let's hope so...
