The first leg of the round of 16 of the Europa League will be on the pitch at the Olimpico: Roma-Brighton 1-0 LIVE
Dybala al 13′
Eve:
De Rossi against De Zerbi: ‘My Roma is Champions League’
Daniele De Rossi and Roberto De Zerbi, enemies for an evening. Actually two, but only on the pitch because the pass to the quarter-finals of the Europa League is up for grabs. Roma’s objective is to repeat last year’s path, but changing the ending. So cancel the sorrow of Budapest with the joy of Dublin, but May is still a little away and there are several steps in between before that. Starting from the round of 16 against Brighton which “isn’t just De Zerbi”, says the Roma coach on the eve of the match. “They have many good players – continues the coach – And although they are not used to certain stages, in these cases they cling to the pitch and they know how to do this well”. So Roma’s European experience is there, but according to De Rossi, it won’t have that much of an impact. “They will fill that gap with us with tactical knowledge – explains the former captain – We will have to apply intensity to bring home the victory. We cannot think that they will give us the pass or that they will be scared of the stadium because it is true that sometimes they take as against Luton, but they are also the same ones who put City and Liverpool in their own half.” Words not of circumstance or even of fear, but of respect. “We, however, are Roma”, De Rossi reminds everyone that he remains tight-lipped about the formation, not revealing whether he will play three or four. Regardless of the formation, the team is still responding well and this is demonstrated by the words of Mancini, alongside him in the conference. “He brought the serenity that was missing, not because of Mourinho, but because of the results that weren’t arriving. He fixed our heads”, explains the defender. And one can believe him given the score with six wins out of seven in the league and the passage to the Europa League. In fact, De Rossi also says he is “satisfied” with his first 50 days as Giallorossi coach. “But I’m also very aware that we haven’t done anything – he adds – Nobody knows this city better than me, which can change opinions in a nano second, which is why I keep the boys with their heads inside Trigoria. However, the team believes in what I ask “. The rebirth of Lorenzo Pellegrini is perhaps the purest demonstration of this, as is the athletic one of Paulo Dybala who will start alongside Romelu Lukaku. However, the presence of El Shaarawy in the trident needs to be resolved. A decision that De Rossi will only make close to the match because if he played with three, Smalling would be in the starting eleven, thus giving up the Pharaoh. A squad that the Roma coach defines as “Champions League”, deeming it “unacceptable” that the last match in the top European competition was the one against Porto when the Giallorossi captain was still on the pitch. And the goal is to get back there, as it doesn’t matter. Whether through the Europa League, the championship or a ranking that could even give Italy the fifth in the Champions League. A goal from which the future of the coach also passes because “I am here to be evaluated in view of May”, assures De Rossi who in the meantime wants to give his fans yet another happy night for the 50th sold out of the Olimpico.
De Zerbi: ‘In Rome to make Brighton’s history’
are the feat at the Olimpico to reverse the trend: Roberto De Zerbi’s Brighton, Roma’s opponent tomorrow evening in the first leg of the round of 16 of the Europa League, will try.
A challenge within a challenge between De Zerbi and De Rossi, not only colleagues but also friends: “I believe De Rossi was born to be a coach. Two years ago I indicated him as one of the great coaches of the future. He has all the components of the great manager”, explained the Brighton manager in the press conference the day before. “I know Daniele well, we talked a lot and I’m happy because a strong team that had already reached two European finals is changing – he added – He has made an impact in a short time and is achieving results that cannot be taken for granted – He is on the right path to become a great coach”.
“De Rossi is a friend of mine – underlines De Zerbi – I respect him first of all as a person. It is no coincidence that our daughters are friends, we two have the same values. I appreciated that he defined me as “a genius” of football “.
“I don’t feel like I’m a genius or better than others. Work doesn’t scare me and I don’t lack the courage to do things that others don’t do. I also live for football. Maybe this is the difference that having this career,” he added. “Roma is strong and has experience. We don’t have any, but we are here to play. We know who we are playing against and in which stadium. We know how much we have achieved in a year and a half.
We don’t play just to reach the quarter-finals, but because we are writing history in our club. Something unthinkable years ago.”
On his return to Italy De Zerbi underlines how it is “a great pride especially with this team”. “Brighton – he continued – is a team that gives me pride when we play. After every heavy defeat, we have always elbowed our way out of the suffering”.
Then speaking of the Olimpico he concluded: “We played at Old Trafford and won, let’s see tomorrow if the Olimpico will intimidate us. As an Italian I know the drive of this stadium. For us it is certainly a test. I think it should give us even more strength to play in a stadium like this.”
Meanwhile from England, where there are rumors about the interest of the big clubs for the Italian coach. Brighton have set the penalty that the club will have to pay at 14 million euros if they want to tear De Zerbi away from the Seagulls bench next summer. According to the Daily Telegraph, his current club is resigned to his departure at the end of the current season, and for this reason has already established the compensation that will have to be paid. Having arrived in the Premier League around 18 months ago, De Zerbi’s contract with Brighton expires in summer 2026.
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