Roma coach Spalletti bemoans dominant Inter Milan

AS Roma coach Luciano Spalletti, seen here in 2007, has complained that his side has had to be perfect just to keep champions Inter Milan from disappearing over the hill.

      ROME (AFP) - AS Roma coach Luciano Spalletti complained on Monday that his side has had to be perfect just to keep champions Inter Milan from disappearing over the hill. Inter dropped points in the league on Sunday for the first time since November, ending a run of eight successive victories as they were held to a 0-0 draw at fifth-place Udinese. The two dropped points allowed second-placed Roma, who won 1-0 against Palermo on Saturday, to close the gap to leaders Inter from seven to five points. But that small advancement did little to inspire Spalletti, who still holds minimal hope of his side catching Inter. "To reduce the gap to Inter by just two little points, we had to put together a perfect set of results," moaned Spalletti. "Also, we can't get carried away because we have to continue this almost impossible run just to stay behind the Milanese." Roma have won four matches in a row but their problem is that Inter have won 15 and drawn just five of their 20 matches so far this season, remaining unbeaten. "We have to continue to concentrate on ourselves because on current evidence Inter, as they showed yesterday (Sunday), are a great team," said Spalletti. Despite playing the majority of the match with 10 men following the sending off of Brazilian midfielder Cesar, Inter remained the better team in Udine and came closer to winning than their hosts. "I felt happier when watching the Milanese against Parma (a 3-2 victory for Inter the previous weekend) because in that match they showed some weaknesses. "Because yesterday, a man down, they were alost perfect. They're a great team, compact and with character."