Bove: ‘Feyenoord aggressive, De Rossi gave Roma new concepts’

Edoardo Bove explains where Feyenoord can be most dangerous in the Europa League play-off and the ‘new concepts’ coach Daniele De Rossi has brought compared to Jose Mourinho.

You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens from this game and Milan-Rennes on the LIVEBLOG.

The Giallorossi won their first three matches under De Rossi before the dramatic 4-2 defeat to Inter at the weekend.

There are five changes from the starting XI with Inter, including Bove coming in for Bryan Cristante, who is not fully fit.

“This is a very important game for us and in Europe we must always start at 100 per cent, with the maximum responsibility and expectation. We know what awaits us and will do everything to bring the result home,” Bove told Sky Sport Italia.

Roma beat Feyenoord in the last two seasons, first in the Conference League Final to lift the trophy, then in extra time in last season’s Europa League quarter-finals.

“Feyenoord are very aggressive, physical and quick, especially at home, so we must be ready and make them run without the ball. The coach makes his choices based on the games, we are all ready to step onto the field and give our best.”

De Rossi is a very different tactician compared to Mourinho, so Bove was asked which ideas the new boss had introduced to the squad.

“The coach brought some new concepts, one of which is to pass the ball and then start moving immediately after you release it. The more training sessions and games we play with these concepts, the better I think we will do.”

The second leg of this play-off will be at the Stadio Olimpico next Thursday evening and the away goals rule no longer applies in UEFA tournaments.