Roma coach Daniele De Rossi says there’s no disparity between them and Feyenoord, ahead of their Europa League match at the Olimpico. The Giallorossi managed to come away with a 1-1 draw from the first leg, and speaking ahead of the decisive Europa League playoff clash, De Rossi shared his thoughts on the match while offering some updates on the status of key players:
De Rossi began by discussing Lukaku and Dybala: “We need to analyze more than just the goals. I assess performances, and these two are fitting into my idea. I’m pleased with them.” Cristante acknowledged the record attendance expected at the Olimpico: “We must win and advance to repay the fans’ support,” he said, with De Rossi adding, “More fans can’t fit into the stadium, so it’s a responsibility for us.”
De Rossi emphasized the significance of the upcoming match: “It will be a decisive game. We want to continue. We feel the extra thrill of knockout games.”
Regarding the disparity between Roma and Feyenoord and the first leg, De Rossi remarked: “If they recover the two or three players who were absent in the first leg, they will undoubtedly have more quality. There is no disparity between the two teams.” On Ndicka’s return from the Africa Cup of Nations: “He won’t be at 100%; he had a fever. He trained yesterday. While Smalling’s introduction and the switch to three at the back was aimed at easing his return to the field.” Concerning the probable lineup: “I will choose the players whom I believe will win us the game.” Cristante praised his coach: “Arriving midway through the season, in a challenging situation, with players he played with or coached, could have its pitfalls, but he found the perfect balance to manage the situation, which was anything but simple.”
