Paulo Fonseca explains Roma took a ‘realistic’ approach to Shakhtar Donetsk in the Europa League, but has a worrying revelation about Roger Ibanez.
The Giallorossi comfortably swept through to the quarter-finals with a 3-0 home win and 2-1 in Kiev.
It’s the first time since Roma have reached the final eight of any European competition since beating Barcelona in the 2017-18 Champions League.
Paulo Fonseca explains Roma took a ‘realistic’ approach to Shakhtar Donetsk in the Europa League, but has a worrying revelation about Roger Ibanez.
The Giallorossi comfortably swept through to the quarter-finals with a 3-0 home win and 2-1 in Kiev.
It’s the first time since Roma have reached the final eight of any European competition since beating Barcelona in the 2017-18 Champions League.
“It was important that we start the game well and not concede in the opening 30 minutes,” Fonseca told Sky Sport Italia.
“Shakhtar had the initiative, but we always defended well, then had more of the ball and scoring opportunities in the second half.
“We played a realistic game, as Roma had never won here before and never reached the Europa League quarter-finals.
“It won’t be easy for us this season, because there are seven teams fighting for the top four in Serie A and we’ve got the Europa League too. We want to fight to the end.”
Fonseca did make a rather worrying confession as Ibanez came off at half-time, a good 20 minutes after he felt dizzy following a clash of heads with Marash Kumbulla.
“He feels fine now, but he didn’t remember hardly anything that happened in the game.”