Roma, Romelu Lukaku does not leave for Brighton: Daniele De Rossi makes it clear
Daniele De Rossi sheds light on Romelu Lukaku’s condition
Roma will play the return leg of the Europa League round of 16, at home to Brighton (first leg 4-0 for the Giallorossi), without Romelu Lukaku. The Belgian striker has in fact decided to stay in the capital, due to a physical problem about whose nature coach Daniele De Rossi made clear in the press conference on the eve of the match.
Hip problem for Romelu Lukaku
"Lukaku has a hip problem,‖ De Rossi began, -he has been carrying it around for years and it pops up every now and then. Don't ask me how much he will have to rest, because I don't know, but he needs to stop and he told me he couldn't be with us. However we have everything to do well, we can have another great game".
De Rossi also spoke about Paulo Dybala, who opened the scoring in the first leg: "He is well and è with us – said the Roma coach -. Forò we have to change a little bit this concept that without Dybala and Lukaku we cannot play good football. The team è strong, canò play a great game even without them".
De Rossi urges to avoid too relaxed approach
Despite the four-goal lead, De Rossi asks his players to start as from 0-0, to avoid bad surprises. "In all games you can risk taking many goals, not that in the first leg Brighton thought they would take four,” he explained. “In the first leg they had four-five chances, they took a post. We have to be very careful".
"The ideal would be to maintain our scoring average, to score one or two goals, that would put us in a good position,‖ said the former captain again. In the first leg we closed the first half up 2-0, if we did that in the return leg as well it would be great. Then è clear, I have also been a footballer and I already know that there's a danger of relaxing, but on the other side they'll be nervous and will always be watching the clock".
