Delvecchio aiming to deliver

By Tom Kington in Rome

To Marco Delvecchio a month must seem like a long time in football. After limping out of AS Roma's Champions League home loss to Valencia CF on 18 March - Roma's third straight defeat in the second group stage - the 29-year-old rated his side's chances of making the quarter finals as "one in ten".

Leading the line
But a month later, Roma are back in with a chance after inflicting a revenge 3-0 drubbing on Valencia and holding Arsenal FC to a draw at Highbury despite losing inspirational captain Francesco Totti to a red card early in the game. The 29-year-old Delvecchio is also back from injury and will lead the line in Rome tonight as Fabio Capello's men chase a victory over AFC Ajax that could send them through.

Still strong
Delvecchio denied that the absence of the suspended Totti and defender Walter Samuel were killer blows, claiming: "The team is an organic unit that can play well against Ajax even without them". But the reality is that these two absences will place more weight on Delvecchio's shoulders, particularly if coach Capello decides to push him up front alongside Antonio Cassano with Francisco Lima taking his more regular spot on the left of midfield.

Height wanted
Capello has recently bemoaned Roma's lack of a 'Torre', a tall front man, and he will encourage Delvecchio to get on the end of searching long balls against Ajax. It is a role Delvecchio is used to, having carved out a telepathic relationship with Totti - so often the supplier of accurate balls into his path.

Strong in the air
Apart from chasing through balls and slotting goals past advancing keepers, the hard-working Delvecchio is equally strong in the air. He also works well on the left with full-back Vincent Candela in a flexible Roma formation. "It's a way to avoid making things easy for opposing markers," he said. "Candela and I can both move forward in attack at any given moment. We essentially play 4-4-2, with me on the left of midfield, but it ultimately means a number of things in reality."

Cancelled out
It was from build-up play instigated by suspended club-mate Totti that Delvecchio scored Italy's goal that so nearly won the 2000 UEFA European Championship, only for a French equaliser to come in the last minute of normal time, followed by David Trezeguet's extra-time 'golden goal'. "This time out Italy has a tough qualifying group in Europe but I think we have a good chance to get through and win it," he said. "Don't forget we were 30 seconds from winning the last one."

Title win
During his eight seasons in a Roma shirt after spells at AC Venezia, Internazionale FC and Udinese Calcio, Delvecchio helped the Giallorossi win the Scudetto in 2000/01, but since then the side's league form has tailed off, particularly this season. "In the league we are well off the pace, and we will now look to advance in the Italian cup, which also has a place in Europe for the winner," Delvecchio said. With city rivals S.S. Lazio standing between Roma and a place in the cup final, Roma fans will be looking to 'Supermarco' to build on his record of scoring regularly in Rome derbies.

Fans needed
But before then comes Roma's night of reckoning in the Champions League, and Delvecchio's wish to aid the task at hand is simple: "A full stadium behind us."