Daniele De Rossi
AS RomaXabi Alonso
Leverkusen
Meeting Highlights…INJURY REPORT
Lukaku is fine. He seems fine. Today we'll push a little more and we'll see how he responds but I still have some doubts. Chris I hope to get him back, I think I'll get them both back. Let's then look at the management of the running time. Llorente's speech on the right may be valid but we will see it after the experiments carried out and let's think about everything.
…PREPARATION
I don't think it's the most fearful thing, I think there's everything to fear, the way they play, they play very well. They have very interesting players, I respect their coach a lot, they have more time under their belt with this coach. One thing to respect a lot is that they are unbeaten despite having gone down often. In addition to a team that plays good football, they have also achieved an awareness and tenacity for minutes that seem irrecoverable. There are footballing and less mental things that make me respect them so much. We are in the game until the end, we wouldn't have won in Udinese if it weren't like this and we wouldn't have scored in Naples. From this point of view we will be equal and both will fight until the last second.
…UNBEATEN OPPONENT
I think it's not a burden, but there are teams that have put them in difficulty. I leave the luck to those who go to play at the casino. There is something great in that team. They have a strong coach, perhaps the best in the world, excellent players and they play great football. They have strong players placed in the ideal conditions to do well. They have a physical, solid team, but they also have great quality. Wirtz, Grimaldo. Schick has always been strong, but he is a man now. Boniface is strong. They have strong spares. If Frimpong doesn't play, Tella plays. They have quality players but also with great legs. They know how to play but they also know how to be direct. They have built a really strong team thanks to the coach's ideas but also thanks to important signings.
Daniele De Rossi
Manager on AS Roma…INJURY REPORT
Lukaku is fine. He seems fine. Today we'll push a little more and we'll see how he responds but I still have some doubts. Chris I hope to get him back, I think I'll get them both back. Let's then look at the management of the running time. Llorente's speech on the right may be valid but we will see it after the experiments carried out and let's think about everything.
…PREPARATION
I don't think it's the most fearful thing, I think there's everything to fear, the way they play, they play very well. They have very interesting players, I respect their coach a lot, they have more time under their belt with this coach. One thing to respect a lot is that they are unbeaten despite having gone down often. In addition to a team that plays good football, they have also achieved an awareness and tenacity for minutes that seem irrecoverable. There are footballing and less mental things that make me respect them so much. We are in the game until the end, we wouldn't have won in Udinese if it weren't like this and we wouldn't have scored in Naples. From this point of view we will be equal and both will fight until the last second.
…UNBEATEN OPPONENT
I think it's not a burden, but there are teams that have put them in difficulty. I leave the luck to those who go to play at the casino. There is something great in that team. They have a strong coach, perhaps the best in the world, excellent players and they play great football. They have strong players placed in the ideal conditions to do well. They have a physical, solid team, but they also have great quality. Wirtz, Grimaldo. Schick has always been strong, but he is a man now. Boniface is strong. They have strong spares. If Frimpong doesn't play, Tella plays. They have quality players but also with great legs. They know how to play but they also know how to be direct. They have built a really strong team thanks to the coach's ideas but also thanks to important signings.
Xabi Alonso
Manager on Leverkusen...ROMA
Quite a bit has changed since the games last year against Roma. There are new people at both teams. The styles of play have also changed somewhat. His style of play is clear to see. Their style has changed with the change of coach.
...ABOUT THE MATCH
The desire and hunger to reach the final are absolutely there. It’s a second chance for us after last year, even though we know it’ll be difficult. Roma have shown their quality often enough in the Europa League this season. There’s also the spectacular atmosphere in the stadium here.
...INJURY REPORT
Jonathan Tah is available, as are forwards Adam Hlozek and Borja Iglesias after their respective injuries. Matej Kovar will continue in goal in the competition.