Once the fear for Evan Ndicka has passed and the long retreat in the north, between Milan and Udine, has ended, Roma returns to work this morning in Trigoria, under the orders of coach Daniele De Rossi. While waiting to find out when the match against Udinese can be completed, with around twenty minutes including injury time available to look for the winning goal, our minds can return to the European path, with the second leg of the Europa League quarter-finals scheduled the day after tomorrow against Milan. After Mancini’s narrow victory a week ago, the Olimpico – which will be sold out – is ready to push the Giallorossi who are chasing what would be the fourth consecutive European semi-final – two more in the Europa League and, in between , that of Conference.
To achieve the objective, the coach from Ostia, after opting for a bit of turnover in Friuli – with a consequent change of formation which did not yield the desired results – is ready to return to the standard formation, with some necessary adjustments. In fact, he will be missed, as well as Azmoun – his condition is improving, but it will still take a few days to see him back in the group – and Ndicka, also Bryan Cristante, the true irreplaceable of the Roma midfield. The match against Milan will be the second absence of the season for the number 4, after the one in Roma-Verona, in De Rossi’s debut on the bench.
The main suspect to act in his place as right midfielder is Edoardo Bove, the only one available who can guarantee the pace and kilometers that Cristante usually covers, fundamental for the tactical balance of the team. An important chance for the class of 2002, publicly praised on several occasions by DDR, but always a step behind in the hierarchies of the former number 16. Still without a goal in the league, Bove found the only goal of the season in the Europa League, with the great right-footed shot against Slavia Prague in the group stage. He who a year ago, at just 20 years old, with his goal against Bayer Leverkusen – probable opponent in the semi-final of a match between Roma and Milan – dragged Mourinho’s team to the final.
For the rest, most of the San Siro starters return, although it remains to be seen how De Rossi will want to deploy his team, after surprising Pioli in the first leg with a very effective 4-4-2. Svilar obviously confirmed between the posts, with Smalling and Mancini pairing up in front of him. Celik is back on the right – Kristensen and Huijsen are not present in the UEFA list – while on the left Spinazzola will alternate with Angeliño. In the control room there is room for Paredes, with the return of Pellegrini on the left. The captain and Dybala – who also returns from the 1st minute – will provide Lukaku with the necessary quality, with El Shaarawy ready for another 90 minutes of dedication.
All things that De Rossi and his team will prepare for the matches starting this morning, when the resumption of training will take place around 11am, after the day of rest granted after Udine. Tomorrow will already be a day before, with the usual events that characterize the day before a cup match. At 1pm Daniele De Rossi will speak in the press conference – in the next few hours Roma will announce which player will sit next to him -, while in the afternoon, at 3.40pm, the finishing touches will take place, with the first quarter of an hour open to the press. Training in Milanello set for 12pm for Pioli’s men, who will travel to the capital after lunch, with walk around at the Olympic Stadium scheduled for 6.30pm, with a press conference immediately afterwards. The appointment with Europe is back, Roma-Milan is approaching.
