LATEST NEWS FROM AS ROMA – On the eve of the Europa League round of 16 first leg match between Roma and Athletic Club, scheduled for tomorrow night at the Stadio Olimpico, Ernesto Valverde spoke in a press conference. Below are all his statements:
What differences are there between this Roma team and the one from the beginning of the season?
“When we first came here they had just changed coach, Juric had just arrived and there were unknowns while now we arrive with an experienced coach like Ranieri who has been working with this team for several months. Roma is a dangerous and very strong team, now with Ranieri even more so. It is a very complicated round.”
How is Sancet doing?
“Yesterday he did part of training with the group, we will evaluate today’s training. It’s an important game but there will be others and he has to be 100 percent. We will evaluate him.”
What does he tell the players on the eve of two such games?
“We have to emphasize some aspects, the second game will depend on tomorrow’s challenge. If you miss tomorrow’s game you are out and in these double challenges mistakes or bad days are not allowed. We have to be competitive and focused, we have the ambition to move forward.”
How does he deal with this challenge?
“We have players who are cautioned and no one thinks of sparing anyone, we certainly don’t. If a player who is warned has to play, I will put him on the field.”
Who will play between the posts?
“Unai Simon or Julen Agirrezabala.”
What kind of environment do you expect tomorrow after the incidents in the September game?
“The environment was beautiful in the first game, tomorrow will be the same and hopefully there will be no more incidents. Tomorrow is a European game and we hope everyone can enjoy it.”
What worries you most about this Roma team?
“They are going through a very good moment, but we are also doing well. They have great quality players and the difference is that in recent years we have not been in Europe and they have played semifinals, finals and won the Conference League. They have experience that we don’t have.”
What do you remember about Ranieri in Spain?
“I don’t remember, but I admire him so much. He transmits a great energy, he is a reference point for any coach and has reaped success in every team he has gone to. He is a coach I appreciate from a personal and professional point of view, he is giving Roma so much.”
Does he focus on Roma or more on his team?
“Teams have to try to be themselves during the game, then something can change based on the characteristics of the opposing team but you don’t have to distort the way you play. Roma will be themselves and focus on their potential.”
Do you, like Nico Williams, also think Athletic is favored?
“Let’s see, I don’t think we can consider ourselves favorites in tomorrow’s challenge. In the group stage we did very well we finished second. We respect Roma so much for what they have done even in Europe in recent years, we have to take that into account. Games have to be played and tomorrow, unless one of the two teams has a bad day and the other extremely positive, in principle it will be a balanced challenge.”
Roma won against Como in a comeback, Athletic lost against Atletico Madrid but does the performance seen leave you calm?
“We could have gotten a better result against Atletico, the result in soccer is everything but we focus on our work.”
With the return to the San Mames tomorrow can we settle for a draw?
“No one can predict tomorrow’s result, we don’t know how the game will play out and we can’t think of speculating on a draw or a definite result. We have to go out on the field and get a good result.”
Worried about the Roma fans?
“It doesn’t worry me, we drew here after going down and there was a beautiful environment. Roma fans are very passionate. On Sunday we played at the Wanda Metropolitano and there was a great environment. We also like to play in such hot stadiums.”
With the coach, Alex Berenguer also spoke in the conference from the press room at the Olimpico. His statements:
Is it different playing against an Italian team?
“It’s a great team, Italian teams are difficult to play against. It will be a very difficult game that will be decided by small details, we are here to play our game.”
You still haven’t scored in Europe.
“It’s always a good time to score a goal in Europe. I’m doing well and if it’s destiny tomorrow welcome, it will be one more statistic. The team is doing well and we are all focused, we hope to bring home a good result.”
What kind of environment do you expect tomorrow?
“I think it’s going to be a beautiful environment tomorrow, it always is here, with extraordinary cheering. What happened in the first game? Our captain reprimanded our fans for their behavior, I hope it will be a festive evening.”
The Olimpico reminds you of good times.
“I scored my first Serie A goal here against Lazio. It’s a stadium that brings me well, it was my first goal in Italian soccer.”
Roma has changed so much since September.
“It is a very solid team defensively, there are decisive players up front.”
What could be the key to this double challenge?
“As I said before, it will be a complicated match for both Roma and us and it will be decided by small details, there we will have to be ready to tip the needle on our side. We need to win a very good result tomorrow ahead of the return leg.”
This is one of your best seasons for goals and assists.
“Yes, I am going through my best moment, I have matured as a footballer and as a person and it shows on the field. I’m having fun and enjoying playing with my teammates.”
In recent months we have read your name being mentioned to Roma, how much truth is there in that?
“I have no idea about that thing, I never knew anything about this contact between my agents and Roma.”
There is always talk about the starting eleven, and you are always there. What is the secret?
“Daily work is very important, I am a professional. You have to take care of nutrition, recover well after games, and genetics also helps. Daily work and mentality is key because at this level you have to be ready all the time.”
What would be a good result ahead of the return leg?
“We come here to get the best result, we have desire and a lot of ambition, we leave to win.”
Lately we have seen you playing as a half forward but also on the left flank, are you finding your placement?
“I’m finding myself well in all attacking positions because I’m a player who moves a lot and this takes away reference points from the opponent. I also really like the half forward position because I am closer to the penalty area.”
Being a round that is decided after 180 minutes, does it change the mentality in approaching the first match?
“In a way, yes, because it’s two games and a lot will depend on the result here.”
The article VALVERDE: “Roma dangerous and very strong team, now with Ranieri even more so. It’s a very complicated round” comes from Giallorossi.net, exclusive news, news and soccer market.
