BRoberto De Zerbi And Pascal Gross Offer Insights Into Brighton’s Significant Defeat In The Europa League Against Roma
Brighton & Hove Albion’s head coach Roberto De Zerbi has commended Roma for demonstrating their seasoned expertise after the Italian side handed the Seagulls a significant 4-0 defeat in the initial leg of their Europa League last-16 clash on Thursday.
It was a forgettable evening for the former Sassuolo manager, marking his first managerial return to his homeland, as Brighton endured their heaviest European defeat by an English club in five years.
Numerous defensive lapses proved costly for Brighton at the Stadio Olimpico, as goals from Paulo Dybala, Romelu Lukaku, Gianluca Mancini, and Bryan Cristante firmly placed Roma in the driver’s seat to secure a spot in the quarter-finals.
Brighton has now suffered three consecutive losses across all competitions for the first time under De Zerbi’s leadership, marking the first occasion the 44-year-old coach has endured a three-game losing streak since January 2020 (a sequence of three with Sassuolo).
Reflecting on the disappointing outcome, De Zerbi expressed to reporters, “We played to our strengths and gave our best effort, but perhaps our current best performance is reflected in tonight’s showing. Roma displayed superior experience in navigating this type of match, and we struggled to cope with the demands of this level of competition, which we are less accustomed to.”
“We faced a team stronger than us tonight. The Roma players are accustomed to these high-stakes matches, and being Italian myself, I’m familiar with their capabilities; they were already talented players.
“While we managed to create numerous chances, similar in quantity, Roma’s pace and winning habits set them apart. It’s a significant milestone for Brighton to reach the Europa League last 16, and today’s match showcased the level of competition we’re striving to adapt to.
“I must commend my players today. Despite performing at about 20% below our potential, they showed immense character. This match serves as an important lesson for our club. It’s a learning opportunity for our president, as we look to enhance our team in the future.
“For myself, it’s a chance to better manage the demanding period from January to March, especially in the busy English schedule. And for the players, there’s a sense of disappointment and regret, which fuels the desire to improve and perform better. We lost to a superior team, both technically and mentally.
“Now, our focus shifts to Nottingham Forest on Sunday. We must remain resilient and competitive in the Premier League for the remainder of the season.”
Midfield maestro Pascal Gross, who completed the entire 90 minutes, acknowledged that Brighton was left to rue the costly defensive errors committed in the Italian capital. However, he maintains an optimistic outlook ahead of next week’s second leg on home turf.
“We approached the match with our usual level of preparation and a positive mindset,” Gross stated. “Unfortunately, we conceded a couple of goals that are unforgiving at this level, and we failed to find the back of the net ourselves.
“We made some errors in dangerous areas and lost some key battles, which can happen in high-stakes matches. The only way forward is to learn from our mistakes and strive for improvement. In football, anything is possible, but for now, our focus is on the upcoming 90 minutes on Sunday.”
Brighton aims to halt a streak of four consecutive losses without scoring across all competitions when they host Nottingham Forest at the American Express Stadium for a Premier League encounter on Sunday.
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