An emotional Daniele De Rossi praised his Roma side following their penalty shoot-out victory over Feyenoord: “I think it’s a deserved victory.” The Giallorossi went behind in the opening minutes after Santiago Giménez scored just 5 minutes into the match, but Lorenzo Pellegrni restored parity 10 minutes later with a superb solo effort. The match was ultimately decided by penalties, with keeper Mila Svilar saving two spot kicks to put Roma into the last 16. De Rossi talked with Sky Sport Italia at the full time whistle and shared his thoughts on a thrilling match:
“I want to take everything in, to remember everything. My first European night. It was very nice that it ended like this, I think it’s a deserved victory, we put them in difficulty.”
“Perhaps it is the best way to win. We are a great team with a great stadium and a great crowd,” he added.
“Svilar? He’s precocious but he’s strong, he’s calm in his head and he was even when he played less. He is supported by the team and by Rui Patricio, who is a wonderful man.”
“Pellegrini is a great player and a great captain. He deserves it. I’m happy for him,” added De Rossi.
“Despite tonight’s win, we must improve. We have to work a lot, even after so many years the players need help on the mental aspect. We have to work on those concepts, which perhaps get boring, but help to bring about good results.”
“Every game is different. We don’t last 90 minutes, it’s not easy and let’s remember there are opponents who are equally as good. We faced a team that can make the Champions League, who plays with the ball. There can befatigue, obviously we have to work and understand why we aren’t succeeding in that aspect. In the 120th minute I saw everyone ready to sprint for Lukaku… the goalkeeper performed a miracle on him, so there was still plenty of fuel.”
