Roma –
AS Roma qualify for the semifinals Europa League. This result at the same time maintains the spirit of Italy in European club competitions.
Rome is known to be the only representative of Italy remaining in the quarter-finals, both in the Europa League and Champions League. The other pizza country teams had already picked up their suitcases.
In the Europa League, Roma were initially accompanied by AC Milan and Napoli. However, Milan have been eliminated in the last 16 by Manchester United, while Napoli have been evicted by Granada since the last 32.
The results of the Italian representatives in the Champions League were even worse. Passing three representatives to the top 16, all of them lay helpless. Lazio were inferior in front of Bayern Munich, Atalanta was unable to hold back Real Madrid, and Juventus were silenced by Porto at home.
One other representative, namely Inter Milan, was hot late. The Nerazzurri are fierce at the moment in Serie A, but at the group stage they only finished as caretaker.
Therefore, it survived Roma of Europa League be a blessing as well as a burden in itself. Even so, Edin Dzeko et al know that the Europa League can be a shortcut for them to finish in the Champions League next season, considering that currently they are still stuck in seventh place in the Italian League.
Realizing that opportunity, Roma also appeared insistent in the quarterfinals. Facing Ajax Amsterdam which adheres to the flow total football, Rome doesn’t get carried away.
Letting your opponent control the ball and attack effectively is the way to go. Even though Roma always fell behind first in both the first leg and the second leg, Paulo Fonseca’s squad always did comeback and avoid defeat.
Scores of 2-1 in Amsterdam (9 April) and 1-1 in Rome (16 April) ensure a place in the top four. Now, they have been waiting for Manchester United in the semifinals.
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Roma managed to hold back Ajax in the Europa League quarter-finals, ensuring a ticket to the semifinals. Photo: AFP / FILIPPO MONTEFORTE– |
“We are happy, but it is important to stay immersed in the euphoria. There are still semifinals. This breakout means a lot, because we keep trying to do well, build ourselves up, and that’s the motivation in every game,” said the captain. Roma, Lorenzo Pellegrini, to Sky Sport Italy after getting rid of Ajax.
“If we want to achieve something extraordinary, we have to beat the best. We will enjoy the results tonight, but tomorrow we will focus on the next test,” he added.
(adp/ran)
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