Roma Coach Eusebio Di Francesco believes Real Madrid have “the highest quality in Europe” but “we’ll try not to change our mentality”.
The Giallorossi face the Champions League holders at the Bernabeu tonight, as they look to improve upon last year’s run to the semi-finals.
“Real Madrid are the team with the highest quality in Europe,” Di Francesco told El Pais.
Roma Coach Eusebio Di Francesco believes Real Madrid have “the highest quality in Europe” but “we’ll try not to change our mentality”.
The Giallorossi face the Champions League holders at the Bernabeu tonight, as they look to improve upon last year’s run to the semi-finals.
“Real Madrid are the team with the highest quality in Europe,” Di Francesco told El Pais.
“That means they don’t make many mistakes, as is the case in general in Spanish football: they have the ability to keep the ball with ease and they don’t make many mistakes.
“They have a way of working together that makes them seem even stronger than they are.
“We’ll try not to change our mentality, we’ll be aggressive and we’ll try to play our game.
“We know against Real Madrid it’s not easy, but we won’t just sit there and wait to be hit, because then that’s what’ll happen. We’ll try to get in a few hits of our own.
“This year they play more as a team and are more compact. They seem to press more consistently.
“They have a great mentality, they switch off less, and they didn’t even do that much with [Zinedine] Zidane. Now they’re much more consistent in imposing their game.
“Cristiano Ronaldo? He solved many games for them in the past, but the team isn’t feeling his absence.
“They have players with quality, six starters for the national team. They’re like Juventus last year, who had the foundation of the national team.
“What’s more they have a player who offers impressive security: Sergio Ramos.
“He has impressive quality, he switches the play from one side to the other in an incredible way. He did it for Spain the other day, changing the balance of the team even when they’re under pressure.
“I can assure you, not all defenders are capable of that.
“Then [Karim] Benzema is a fantastic striker. He doesn’t just play in the box, he opens up the spaces and allows others to play.
“I’m crazy about [Marco] Asensio though. I think he and Saul [Niguez] are the future of Spanish football.”
The Lupi famously overturned a 4-1 loss to Barcelona in the first leg of last season’s quarter-final, but did the Coach really think they could do it?
“We didn’t deserve to lose the first leg 4-1, and the preparation for the match was based on showing the lads all the chances we had.
“We were in good condition mentally and physically, we were more aggressive than them and when the first goal came we started believing.
“Did they underestimate us? You’d have to ask them. Obviously I didn’t underestimate them.”