Lorenzo Pellegrini reveals it was Jose Mourinho who told him not to take the penalty in Roma’s 3-0 win over Udinese and it seemed to pay off, as he scored his first goal from open play since October 2021.
The Giallorossi were the only side so far who played in Europe midweek and also won their Serie A match, pending Fiorentina against Atalanta on Monday.
It means they go three points clear in third place of Milan and now have a five-point advantage over fifth-placed Inter.
“It was important because we had the opportunity to see the results of the other teams and have been working a long time to be up there. It’s a great day,” Pellegrini told DAZN.
“There are more games ahead of us, we start thinking about Thursday from now and after that can focus on Serie A. I think this team has really made improvements in terms of mentality.”
After the 1-0 Europa League quarter-final defeat to Feyenoord, in which Pellegrini missed a penalty, the captain left it to Bryan Cristante when they were awarded another spot-kick against Udinese this evening.
Everyone had assumed this was Pellegrini backing out, but he reveals it was a very different story.
“It was a choice made by the coach. I was ready to take the penalty, but he told me considering what had happened and the general moment I was going through, the importance of freeing my mind, he wanted me to not have that weighing on me. I will be ready to take the next penalty if I’m needed.”
Cristante hit the upright, Edoardo Bove turning in the rebound, then Pellegrini scored his first goal from open play in 560 days before Tammy Abraham’s stoppage-time glancing header. How did he feel when the ball hit the back of the net?
“I felt free! It had been a while that it wasn’t happening, I really missed it. People who know and love me said I had to take some of the weight off me and start to experience things with a lighter heart and I achieved it.”
The Italy international celebrated with a heart gesture to the crowd, who before kick-off had put up a banner reassuring the much-criticised captain that they were behind him ‘in good times and bad.’
“The celebration with the heart was something my daughter taught me, but it is also for the whole stadium. I already knew it, but that banner confirmed it. I know in good times and bad, I can always count on their support, just as they know in good times and bad, they can always count on me to give everything I’ve got for Roma and for them.”