Daniele De Rossi feels Roma ‘could’ve done better’ against Brighton this evening, but is looking forward to the Europa League quarter-final. ‘Nobody will be happy to draw us.’
The Giallorossi knew the job was almost done thanks to a 4-0 first leg lead, so were able to rest Paulo Dybala, with Romelu Lukaku out injured.
Sardar Azmoun had seemingly put them in front at the Amex Stadium with an acrobatic finish that was controversially disallowed for dangerous play, when it was the defender if anything who seemed to move towards his high boot.
Danny Welbeck scored the only goal instead with a great curler into the far top corner, but the second defeat of De Rossi’s coaching career is a painless one, especially against a friend like Roberto De Zerbi.
“Achieving qualification is something worthy of praise, though the lads did most of the job in the first leg. We still needed the right attitude and character here, I saw a small step forward in that sense,” De Rossi told Sky Sport Italia.
“It’s true we could’ve done better with the ball, as Brighton are good on the ball, but not as good without it, and we should’ve made more of that to take the pressure off. We need to move better, create the spaces between the lines, but today we went for the long ball a bit too much. Every time we emerged from their press, we either backed off or kicked it from distance. Once you get out of the press, you have to take that moment to think and make the right choice.”
With Dybala rested, Tommaso Baldanzi received his first Europa League knockout round start and seemed to improve as the game wore on.
“He looks better every day in training. This was his first start in a European knockout tournament in a fiery atmosphere, so you don’t have time to think on the ball. He did well tonight, he is growing more and more every day, but still has to be more decisive in the final third.
“The squad was already in good physical shape when I arrived, everyone works hard in training. If you do that, then the performances will be there in Europe too. If we can be a little sharper on the ball, then we can really start to have fun, because we’ve got the quality.
“If we had not won the first leg 4-0, we would’ve had a different approach today.”
Roma are in the quarter-finals of the Europa League for the second year in a row and there are some very tough potential opponents in the draw, including Liverpool, Olympique Marseille and Bayer Leverkusen.
“Compared to previous years, it’s a very strong set of teams. I think Feyenoord and Brighton are both very good teams too, we are ready to face anyone. It is exciting and motivating to play against the best coaches and players in the world, some lovely stadiums, on the other we wouldn’t be unhappy to get a simpler draw…
“As I said before, nobody will be happy to play against Roma either in this competition. Looking at the options, whoever we get will be exciting.”
De Rossi was asked about the interview Francesco Totti gave where he said he’ll gladly return to Roma if his former teammate remains as coach.
“I expect he’ll be waiting for us at Fiumicino Airport when we get back tonight,” joked De Rossi.
“I’ll give him a call later and see what he says.”