Roma midfielder Edoardo Bove didn’t want to ‘make a scene’ after he was hit by a beer bottle thrown by Lazio fans and reflected on his side’s derby defeat.
The Giallorossi suffered elimination from the Coppa Italia after losing to their intercity rivals in the quarter-final, falling in a 1-0 defeat after Mattia Zaccagni’s second-half penalty. It was Jose Mourinho’s fourth Derby della Capitale loss to Lazio.
Whilst Bove was coming off the pitch in the second half, he was struck on the head by a beer bottle thrown by Lazio fans, a scene that infuriated Roma fans on social media. The Biancocelesti will likely be punished for the act.
Speaking to Sky Sports Italia via TMW, Bove was first asked about the bottle incident.
“They threw a bottle of beer at my head and it hit me. I didn’t think it was time to start controversy or make a scene, the competent authorities will intervene because I don’t think it’s a regular thing. However, I prefer to talk about things on the pitch.”
He reflected on the reasons why Roma lost to Lazio.
“The first half was balanced, in the second we immediately went behind due to an incident. Then it’s difficult to change course once you take the wrong path, after the goal we conceded, we were in a bit of difficulty.
“Then at the end of the match, we created chances that unfortunately we weren’t able to take.”
The 21-year-old was asked if this was a step backwards for Jose Mourinho’s side.
“Derbies are very tense games, sometimes the quality of the game drops. It shouldn’t be like this, but it happens, it happened to them too, in the first half they created absolutely nothing. Once we went behind, we were in difficulty. We can definitely improve our game, we are on the right path.
“It hurts to lose these games, but we will start again from the strength of the group, we’ll be united, the season is long.”
Bove spoke about Roma’s recent difficulties against Lazio in the derby.
“I don’t think it’s a theme. The matches must be analysed individually and each one is different. We failed to adjust the incidents against us, it’s not a question of the derby.”
Finally, Bove spoke about how new arrival Dean Huijsen after his mistake in the match.
“I can only compliment him, he made himself available to everyone. Then of course everyone analyses his performance, but we see great qualities in him, and we are always close to him and in any case, I don’t think a penalty can affect the performance.
“He is a very good boy, he settled in very well.”