Brighton manager Roberto De Zerbi discussed the challenge that awaits his side in tonight’s first leg of the Europa League Round of 16 with Roma.
In an interview with Sportitalia, De Zerbi stressed the importance of this historic match-up for Brighton. “When you have a competition like this, especially for Brighton and if you have the ambition to go all the way, one is as good as the other. We had a hot Europa League group with Aek Athens, Ajax and Marseille and we finished first.”
“Now we go at it again with Roma. Let’s say that, in Europe, it’s one exam after another for us,” he added.
“Roma? Dybala, Lukaku, Pellegrini and El Shaarawy are the players we must focus on, but Roma are strong in all departments, we shouldn’t leave out Ndicka, Smalling, Mancini, Cristante, Paredes and the others either.”
“We must play as a team, deploying the qualities that we also have. We have very young players, some less so, but of great quality. Despite our limited experience on this stage, we will go out there and give our best, and play to advance, obviously.”
