Nainggolan: We'll go out there with the aim of achieving something massive

Tuesday's game at the Stadio Olimpico - which will see the Giallorossi look to overturn a 4-1 first leg deficit - gets underway at 20:45 CEST.

Read everything the Belgian had to say about the match...

In your view what was the game like in the first leg and what are you expecting from tomorrow?

“It was a great performance on our behalf. We were a bit unlucky, but the performance was good. It’s the second leg now and we hope to have a great game, possibly even achieving something massive.”

You’re a top player, but don’t you ever get anxious about winning something in your career?

“So far, I haven’t won anything, but anyone who knows me will tell you I’ve always played to win. Sometimes I prefer the difficult route: it would be too easy to join a successful club to win things. For me, it’s important to have a significant role in a major project and try to win something with a team that aren’t favourites. I chose this club partly for this reason: it’s a big club, but sooner or later it has to win something. A place like Roma deserves to.”

What could be the key to countering Barcelona’s midfield?

“They’re fantastic in possession and have so much quality, but I didn’t notice a massive difference between the sides in the first leg. We were excellent in possession too. We were a bit lucky in individual moments, which made the difference. We hope to commit few mistakes and take the chances that we manage to create.”

In 48 games this season, Barcelona have lost just one and the score was 1-0. As a percentage, how do you rate your chances of a comeback?

“I don’t know about a percentage, but we did have chances in the first leg. We had plenty of opportunities against Fiorentina too, but we must finish them off. It’s up to us, we need to be more clinical in front of goal. We’ll see how the game pans out, but we’ll start it in the conviction that we can cause harm to a great side like Barcelona.”

Physically how do you feel?

“Before the Bologna game I was getting close to 100%, but then I had this little niggle that set me back a bit. I missed the first leg, but now I’m getting better every day. I always want to play, even when it’s through pain, but I couldn’t have performed at my best against Barcelona, so I stepped aside in favour of someone who could offer more. I focused on recovering and now I’m feeling better.”

Do referees favour the big sides in the Champions League?

“It’s always the same discussion. I was in the stands at the Camp Nou and a few decisions seemed obvious to me. We could have got back into the game with the chances we had, but we mustn’t focus on the past but what’s in store for us tomorrow. It’s up to us: how we begin the game, how concentrated we are and how many errors we make.”

Is there too large a gap between Real Madrid, Barcelona and the Italian clubs? Do you feel capable of playing for one of these teams?

“Even playing in this match is a dream I’ve had since I was a child. Could I play for one of these clubs? I don’t know, every side is built according to the attributes of the players they have. In my own small way, I’ve always given it my all and tried to improve in every match or training session, so it’s not up to me to say.”