ROMA THERAPY
Europa roar as De Zerbi aims to outsmart pal De Rossi
ROBERTO DE ZERBI has told Brighton to “remember who we are” after suffering a humbling defeat before their huge Europa League knockout tie this week.
The last-16 clash with Roma will be close to home for the Italian as he is friends with their new coach Daniele De Rossi – and their Roma-supporting daughters meet to watch games in London.
But De Zerbi, who is on the wishlist of several Serie A clubs this summer, insisted that there was nothing personal on his return to Italy.
This fixture is strictly business as winning the trophy is looking like the best way for Albion to qualify for Europe again next season after slipping down to ninth place.
Brighton have now won only one in five in all competitions – and their usual zest and stylish passing was missing at Craven Cottage.
Fulham deserved to win and could have scored more than the three goals netted by Harry Wilson, Rodrigo Muniz and Adama Traore.
De Zerbi, whose side is playing in Europe for the first time in their 123year history, said: “We are not a big club, every day is a challenge if we are able to keep this level.
“Against Fulham there was a good motivation as winning would change part of the season, but we deserved to lose.
“We have to remember who we are and from where we started. Brighton is not Roma, Liverpool, West Ham. We can recover energy and motivation if we think about who we are and the way we reached Europe last season and how we did this season.”
De Zerbi (inset) made his name during three seasons at Sassuolo but he was not offered a top job in Italy and moved to Shakhtar Donetsk in 2021.
Asked if he had something to prove back in Italy, he said: “No. I have to show every day but for myself and the players – not for other people.”
World Cup winner De Rossi has won six out of seven Serie A games since taking over from Jose Mourinho.
And he called De Zerbi a coaching “genius” who has helped his career.
He said: ”Our daughters have become friends in London.
“It’s a very endearing thing. This brought us closer together. They support Roma, even if now I think Elisabetta will support her father.”
Following the emphatic win at Craven Cottage, goalscorer Muniz was hailed as Fulham’s new Aleksandar Mitrovic.
The Brazilian netted his fifth goal in five Premier League games – and Andreas Pereira said: “Rodrigo is similar to Mitro. If he can score as many as Mitro it would be good.”