Daniele De Rossi insists Roma ‘prepared’ for the Bayer Leverkusen tactical switch in the Europa League semi-final, which was already used against Bayern Munich. ‘They give us fewer reference points.’
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The Giallorossi knocked Bayer Leverkusen out of the Europa League semi-final 1-0 on aggregate last season under Jose Mourinho, but a lot has changed.
Since then, the Germans have gone on an unbeaten run all term and already won the Bundesliga title with a month to spare.
However, they are also set out in a very defensive fashion, leaving both centre-forwards Victor Boniface and Patrik Schick on the bench for a False 9 approach.
“We prepared for this too, it was an option they have used against Bayern Munich before, although 90 per cent of the time they used a different approach. We are ready for this too,” De Rossi told Sky Sport Italia.
“It’s not perhaps more defensive, but rather gives us fewer reference points, but the team remains very strong,” De Rossi told Sky Sport Italia.
Roma’s plan for Xhaka
Granit Xhaka is the ‘brains’ of the Bayer Leverkusen midfield, so De Rossi was asked if Roma will press him in particular?
“We’ll be aggressive in general with our pressing. Bayer Leverkusen play as a collective, so we must press not just him, but all those around him to close down the passing channels.”
Considering Bayer Leverkusen are trying to bulk up the midfield, could Roma try to float the ball over the top for Lukaku to hold it up?
“It’s a solution in every game. We must realise when there is little space or time, then Romelu or other players on the wings can always be an option. They cannot be the only alternative, as that makes us predictable, but it can open up the spaces for us to attack.”