Coaches aim for Roma-Sevilla final showdown
Eusebio Di Francesco hopes Roma will avoid Sevilla in the Champions League quarter-finals as he and good friend Vincenzo Montella are eyeing a meeting in the final in May.
On Tuesday, Di Francesco's 'Giallorossi' defeated Shakhtar Donetsk 1-0 to advance via the away goals rule following a 2-1 first-leg defeat in Ukraine.
Meanwhile, Montella's Sevilla stunned Manchester United at Old Trafford as Wissam Ben Yedder came off the bench to strike twice in quick succession and send his side into the quarter-finals of Europe's premier competition for the first time in 60 years thanks to a 2-1 aggregate success.
After their respective matches, Di Francesco joked that he and Montella, former team-mates at Roma, were hoping not to be paired together in Friday's draw as they keep their eyes on the bigger prize.
"I spoke to Vincenzo Montella a few days ago and we aim to meet in the final, this is why as friends we do not want to face each other at this stage of the competition," he said.
"Joking aside, we have to dream and be ambitious. I am not interested about the team we will face. Now we have to think of taking in what we have done.
"We must keep the balance, I am going to repeat this word six times, balance within this context and think about the next game against Crotone.
"Whatever happens in the Champions League is going to be welcomed and we will face it as a great team, you can be sure about this."
The quarter-final draw will take place at the UEFA headquarters in Nyon.
14 March 2018