After three years in Italy as a player, Ray Wilkins still casts a keen eye over football in Serie A, and is aware of the threat Roma offer.

The Giallorossi sit third in Group A, with three points from two games - a defeat at home to Cluj, and a win in Bordeaux.

Having worked extensively over recent years as a Champions League expert, Wilkins has seen plenty of Luciano Spalletti's side. He believes they are not as strong now as in recent seasons, a trait in keeping with Italian football in general.

'They are not the strongest Roma side I have ever seen, they have some very good players within it, but it is not the strongest they have produced over the last couple of years,' acknowledged the assistant first team coach, pictured with colleague Murtosa.

'They are still a side to be reckoned with but if we conduct ourselves in the right fashion we should get a favourable result.'

Asked to highlight their strengths, Wilkins points to the centre of midfield, normally an area of such potency for ourselves.

'The two midfield players are their strength in De Rossi and Aquilani, a young international. He is a very good player, not with the quality of Frank Lampard, but can break midfield and get in the box, with that quality to score a goal.'

Aquilani proved that last midweek, with two strikes for Italy as they overcame Montenegro in Lecce, playing alongside his Roma team-mate.

Alberto Aquilani and Daniele De Rossi

'De Rossi is a very good player, and an experienced international, who given time on the ball can run a game, and we will have to be aware of that,' Wilkins added.

Among the Roma ranks is a former Chelsea man, who Wilkins worked him in his previous spell on the Stamford Bridge coaching staff.

'One of the most difficult players to mark from set plays is Christian Panucci, who has a knack of scoring goals. He does it in a fine fashion when he comes up for dead balls,' he said, pointing to the defender's recent goal against Cluj as evidence.

'While at Chelsea, Christian was no problem at all, a nice guy and a good footballer, but would always score a goal, and was very dangerous at both ends in that he could score and then always head one away at the other end.'

In a playing career that saw him play in four countries, Wilkins remembers his time from Italy well, and an impressive Roman opposition in those days.

'I came up against them numerous times, they were very good at that time, they had Falcao, Toninho Cerezo and the likes, so that was always a very difficult game for us while I was at AC Milan. They do have a wonderful tradition in Francesco Totti, who is a fabulous footballer.'

Since then, Italian club football has enjoyed a golden era, boasting four Champions League wins between 1989 and 1996.

Asked whether he thought Italian football was as strong as it had been, Wilkins responded: 'Nowhere near, they are going through a slight lull with the Italian players, added to the fact that over the last X number of years the Premier League has taken the top players from around the world.

'They used to have that, but that is now our keep. So naturally their football will suffer, and it has done.'

Is it purely down to finances though?

'I think it has a lot to do with it. Now everybody in world football is struggling financially, and we hear of lots of sides in the Premier League with debts and struggling. It is just an unfortunate phase we are going through.

'The economies all over the world are having a bit of a toil up so everyone is pulling at the purse strings. But hopefully they will get it back together again and we will see some strong Italian teams come through.'

Of course, that hope is with the exception of those who meet Chelsea, where Wilkins is feeling right at home.

'It's lovely, everyone has been fantastic and everyone has been treating me in a lovely way, so it has been very comfortable and very easy.'