AS Roma vs Feyenoord
UEFA Europa League
Quarter Final
2nd leg
Thursday
20th April 2023
Olimpico
Slot does not intend to use Mourinho tactics in Rome
Arne Slot hopes that Feyenoord will continue to play its own game in the return against AS Roma on Thursday evening. Where José Mourinho did everything he could to maintain the lead in the final of the Conference League last season, Feyenoord seems to want to do it differently.
With a lead, Mourinho usually does not hesitate to switch defensively and play more controlled. Slot has his own vision on this. “If we are constantly under pressure tomorrow, you could make a choice to make it more stable defensively. But anyone who knows me knows that I think the best way to defend is to have the ball yourself,” said Slot.
Attack is the best defense. Not only a beautiful piece of wisdom, but also actually the view of Slot. “You have to keep them far from your goal. Because if you defend close to your goal, you will get free kicks, corners and unjustified penalties. You must avoid that. As a trainer you are always looking at power relations on the field. And how you can possibly influence that,” he added.
In addition, Slot thinks that Feyenoord can rely on the experience it has gained this season. According to him, the team from Rotterdam is a lot further than the last time they were in Rome, in the group stage against Lazio. He concluded, “We were really overrun in the first half. That chance is smaller now, but you never have certainty in football. You want to start a match well and keep control. The only certainty we have, and we get a lot of confidence from that: it has not happened to us this season that we have completely overrun. Except for that first half against Lazio.”
Mourinho is still in the dark about Dybala and is counting on Roma fans
It is still uncertain whether the return in the quarterfinals of the Europa League against Feyenoord is feasible for Paulo Dybala. The Argentinian is recovering from a muscle injury.
At the press conference on Wednesday prior to the clash a day later, AS Roma coach José Mourinho was still unable to reveal much about Dybala’s participation, who dropped out early in the first leg in De Kuip. He said, “I honestly don’t know. He was there today but trained at low intensity. We have given him 24 hours to check his fitness, tomorrow we will train well and see if he can play.”
Tammy Abraham, who also dropped out in Rotterdam with a shoulder injury, seems to be fit enough to kick off in Stadio Olimpico. “Abraham is fine, he is always fine. He is happy, from the outside he always seems very happy,” said Mourinho.
“We have to score two goals more than Feyenoord,” responded The Special One when asked what Roma’s assignment is. “Whether we will do that in the first ten minutes of the game or in the last ten minutes or in extra time, I don’t know.”
“What I do know is that we have a team full of confidence and a stadium that wants to play the game itself. They don’t just want to be there to clap, sing or wave flags. They want to play the game with us, they know the difference because they’ve done that before. I have the utmost respect for Feyenoord, but I trust my players and I trust my stadium,” the coach concluded.
