The words of the Brighton coach: “I’m sorry for the injured fans also because it happened in my country”
Roberto De Zerbi he spoke to the microphones in the press conference after the match against Roma. These are the words of the technician Brighton:
DE ZERBI AT THE PRESS CONFERENCE
What did you say to De Rossi now? “The only positive thing is that I lost to a friend, imagine if I lost to someone I didn’t like.”
About the match. “We lost against a stronger team. You talk about numbers, opportunities, system, but there is one thing you don’t know because you haven’t been a footballer. The habit of playing these matches. Roma has become strong, I watch the matches, the players on the pitch today were already strong in terms of football when I faced them in Italy, but now they are also strong mentally and are used to playing certain matches. It moved the second goal yes, but above all the habit of playing. It’s a day in which I love my players more. None of them played at more than 25% of their potential. Maybe we would have lost anyway, maybe with the same result but I don’t think so, it certainly would have been different. This day teaches everything the club, starting from the president who will improve in the organization to manage the period from January to March if he still happens to play an eighth, especially in the management of the month of January. Today everyone leaves with great regrets and when you have regrets it improves you, because next time you know what awaits you. Then we can talk about opportunities, we deservedly lost against a team that was very strong in the head and also on the pitch, but here I discover hot water.”
Was the inexperience also not having understood that there was no need to take further risks given that there is a return? Did you misunderstand the game? “We won against Arsenal, Liverpool and United. The problem is not tactical, the truth is that Brighton were 2-0 down in Marseille and we recovered. We won against AEK and I said we didn’t deserve it. Let’s do it I struggle to manage this level, because this has never been our level, in these stadiums and in a round of 16 match. Usually during the warm-up I go out to observe, we check and pass, I had already understood everything there. Before I managed to get on the pitch I spoke for 5 minutes about this aspect, I’m not blown away, it’s a normal thing that happens in football.”
Did inexperience also weigh on your goalkeeper today? “Yes, on him and all my big names. Because Steele is not used to playing these matches, as is Dunk. The situation of Roma’s second goal, by Lukaku, Dunk makes these closures against players like Isak and Haaland. He was in the lead , perhaps this affected the match and the inexperience. Then also on Gross, on Gilmour, on several players.”
How will you prepare psychologically for the next matches against Nottingham and Roma? “It’s not the first time we’ve lost like this and the players have always responded well. We’re not scoring many goals, which is an important fact, despite the many opportunities. In the Premier League we can fight to qualify for Europe again. It’s difficult for 14-15 players to go down on the field every three days, especially if we are not used to it.”
How does Dunk feel after the mistakes? Will it be difficult for you to get back to his level? “Now everyone was sorry. Everyone knows that we did less than what we usually do. Dunk has always been an example and will continue to be so. Against Fulham I brought him out in the second half precisely because he is playing everything and is struggling to hold them for three games and 90 minutes. I have no doubts about leadership and character.”
Can you say something to your fans who were so many today, also in relation to the news of two English fans being stabbed? “This news makes me sad, because they are my fans and because they were injured in my country, this hurts me even more. We have always made the fans proud, they know what the players have given and what they are giving, but it is difficult to keep this level. From the point of view of commitment, no one can say anything to this group.”
If you want to delve deeper into all the topics on the world of Roma without missing any updates, stay connected to Forzaroma to discover all the day’s news on the Giallorossi in the league and in Europe.
© ALL RIGHTS RESERVED