Roma boss Daniele de Rossi has revealed that he has an ‘excellent relationship’ with Brighton manager Roberto de Zerbi.
Roma take on the Seagulls tomorrow in the Europa League in what will be a huge clash for both sides, who are seeking to stay in Europe and potentially grab Champions League qualification. De Zerbi will be managing against a side that he has been linked with multiple times in his career.
De Rossi spoke about De Zerbi in the pre-game press conference today and stated that he has an excellent relationship with the Brighton since their playing days.
“I have had an excellent relationship with De Zerbi since I was a footballer. After the matches and he took his first steps as a coach. After the match we spoke and I expressed my admiration towards him for the game he proposed at Benevento, in Palermo and we talked about his present and what my future would be. He has brilliant ideas and is a different coach. They also have excellent players and have bought many good ones. I expect a complicated and difficult match.”
De Rossi described Brighton as an ’emerging club’ but De Zerbi is making them recognisable at a high level, as he compared the Italian to Bologna boss Thiago Motta.
“They are certainly an emerging club, they don’t have a decade-long history. I believe that Roberto is giving something recognizable in the world, a brand that he carries with him. Bologna is fourth and Roberto has brought something similar to Sassuolo. I think it’s similar, but repeatable only if you have a coach with great ideas or a club that can buy young players.”
De Rossi has lost only one game since having become the Roma manager and he has been praised for the work he has done at the club and it seems likely that he could get the job on a longer term as well.
Kaustubh Pandey | GIFN
