Roberto De Zerbi admits a 4-0 first-leg deficit against Roma will be difficult to overturn but remembers he once won 6-1 as a Foggia coach after losing the first leg 5-0.
De Zerbi’s Brighton host Roma at the Amex Stadium on Thursday in the second leg of the Europa League Round of 16. Roma secured a 4-0 win at the Stadio Olimpico last week, so the Seagulls are facing a tough task at home tomorrow.
“I only know that we must do our best and prepare in the best way,” De Zerbi said at a press conference as quoted by Vocegiallorossa.
“It is true that we didn’t score much in the last five matches, but we created many chances. My work is to focus on what I can do for the team. We made errors in the final yards, but we must work to create chances. I can help my players create space and go between the lines, and then it is up to them to score goals.
“I think these players must be remembered for what they have achieved for Brighton regardless of tomorrow’s result,” continued De Zerbi.
The ex-Sassuolo boss recalled a comeback as Foggia coach but admitted that tomorrow’s match with Roma will be entirely different.
“I remember one [comeback] when I was in charge of Foggia. We lost the first leg 5-0 or 5-1, I can’t remember, but we won the second leg 6-1. However, the current situation is very different. We’ll face a tough side like Roma and a great coach. I watched the Fiorentina game and they played well. They did well in the last four or five matches. They deserve to be where they are.”
De Zerbi also blamed Italian journalists for how some of them describe him in the media but claimed he does not read English newspapers.
“I am Italian so I am accustomed to reading Italian newspapers, not English,” he said.
“Of course, we were not happy with the defeat. We had the same chances as Roma, but they scored and we didn’t. We are not accustomed to playing in these competitions. In Rome, we didn’t play as we usually do. We are not a big team, but we must do better than in the first leg.”
Bart Verbruggen has recently predicted that Brighton would win Roma 5-0 tomorrow.
“I didn’t know he had said that which confirms I don’t read [English papers],” argued RDZ.
“I don’t even know what you write in Italy, whether you write real things or take from other sources. I don’t know, and I don’t care about what a player has said. Against this Roma side, you must do more than an excellent game to achieve a good result.”
Reports in England have linked De Zerbi with the Liverpool and Manchester United jobs. Will he stay or leave at the end of the season?
“I don’t know. I have a contract here. I am on good terms with everyone—the players, the President, and those working at the club. The competition we play won’t make me change my mind. Possibly, other things will.”
De Zerbi said that last week’s loss to Roma was a ‘lesson’ for the entire club so he was asked to clarify what he meant.
“I like to say the truth even if it’s hard to accept sometimes,” the Italian coach replied.
“I am the first responsible when we lose. When things don’t go well, I am the first one to question myself. I think the first leg tie was a lesson for me, the players, the staff and the club. We should have done more, we can always do something more. I tell the press the same thing I say internally, so it’s nothing bad. I must say the truth even when it’s unpleasant.
“These players have always followed me, perhaps even too much. I’ve never had doubts about their desire to follow me. I leave players free to choose, and I am satisfied when they follow me. I don’t know if they’ll be freer tomorrow. The first leg result affected tomorrow’s result.
“I have experience and I think experience counts. You always learn and when you have enough experience, you can give advice to players. To me it’s normal. I hope to see a great game, which will be difficult anyway.”
Brighton 5 Rometta 4