Roma boss Daniele De Rossi provided an analysis to the team’s 0-2 defeat in the first leg of the Europa League semifinal with Bayer Leverkusen.
During his post-match interview with Rai Sport, De Rossi analyzed the first half:
“Bayer are strong, we knew it. In the first half we did what we had to do, we had to be tidier in managing the ball so as not to give them all these counterattacks. We started with the right aggressiveness, the episodes helped us at times and today we didn’t score despite a couple of interesting opportunities.”
“They punished us, when you go behind against them it becomes difficult,” said De Rossi.
“In addition to our preparation, we were sometimes imprecise. They are really strong, if you want to be aggressive which is what we tried, you have to take into account that they have quality players who go very fast and it is not easy to keep them at bay for the whole match.”
“If we had waited in our half of the pitch and made them control the ball it would have changed little, we didn’t have the same energy as them to get back at them, so it could have been an even worse match.”
“I was amazed by their play and form, I was impressed by the team they were even though we expected them to be really good.”
“Karsdorp? At the end of the first half I told him that he was playing a good game, I still think so now. I told him that he shouldn’t be influenced by the atmosphere and his mistakes, but it’s never easy. In such an important match. I never judge the lads too much. Football is made of mistakes, this time we were punished. We all lose and win together.”
