Bodø/Glimt manager Kjetil Knutsen previewed tomorrow’s first leg of Conference League quarter-finals against Roma in a press conference organized earlier today.
“Tomorrow we meet the most in form team of Serie A,” he said. “They’ve changed a lot starting from their formation at the back with three central defenders.”
When asked whether Bodø/Glimt could expect a similar opponent to the one faced in the infamous 6-1 defeat for the Giallorossi, Knutsen replied, “These are two new, different matches, with completely different assumptions on both sides.”
“We’re not going to go back and watch and think of the first game at all,” he added.
He continued, “We are very much aware of what Roma are capable of.”
“For us, it’s about our identity, our ability to take control of the game. We have identified our strengths and their weaknesses,” Knutsen said.
On Roma’s interest in Ola Solbakken, Knutsen commented, “These are the consequences for good teams and good individual players. If Roma are interested, they know what they have to pay for him.”
Finally, on Mourinho: “I have incredible respect for him and what he has achieved in the world of football, but we are probably a little different. We come from different cultures, he is one of the most successful coaches in the world of football and for this I can only show him respect.”
“He was very kind to me, after the first game he congratulated us. I think it can be said that he is a man who brings great respect. He protects his players, it is very fascinating to be able to observe him closely.”