AC Milan Vs AS Roma: De Rossi Makes The Match In The Europa League Not Easy

JAKARTA - AC Milan has twice beaten AS Roma in the Italian Serie competition. However, the match in the quarter-finals of the Europa League d San Siro Stadium, Friday, April 12, 2024 in the morning WIB, will be different. Roma's new coach Daniele De Rossi made Milan not easy.

The change to Rome with the presence of De Rossi who replaced coach Jose Mourinho. This is what makes Milan wary.

How could I not, Milan could always overcome Roma when it was still under Mourinho's handling. Even Milan's 3-1 victory in January 2024 ended with Mourinho being dismissed.

De Rossi who replaced Mourinho turned out to be successful in fixing the Giallorossi. The team only lost once to 11 matches in various competitions.

Roma suffered their only defeat when they were forced to surrender by the leader of the Italian League standings, Inter Milan.

"They [Roma] are in the best condition. They were able to turn things around and win in the derby [Della Capitale against Lazio]. They only lost against Inter," said Milan coach Stefano Pioli.

"Since Mourinho's departure, they have changed a lot. That's why we haven't watched their game again against us in the league. We've been watching their game since De Rossi was on the bench," he said.

According to Pioli Roma, it has changed a lot. They also continue to push to the top and are now competing for a position in the top four in order to get a ticket to the Champions League.

Now, Roma is ranked fifth and three points adrift of Bologna who is ranked fourth.

De Rossi managed to turn Roma into one of the strong teams in Serie A. This is what makes duels between Italian teams increasingly difficult for Pioli.

"De Rossi did an amazing job. I'm not talking about their style of play. But how that team changed completely to become very solid," said Pioli.

"When facing Roma with Mourinho, it is difficult. This match will not be easy. I also don't know which player De Rossi chose," he said.

In that match, Milan lost mainstay defender Fikayo Tomori due to a ban from playing at UEFA. But attacking midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek was able to play again. This England player missed Milan's 3-0 win over Lecce for a ban on playing.

Loftus-Cheek became a mainstay because he was able to increase the team's impact power. He has scored 11 goals from 15 matches in the Europa League. This season, he has scored four goals.

Roma will rely on Romelu Lukaku's center forward. This Chelsea loan player got the post from Paulo Dybala and former Milan forward Stephan El Shaarawy.

AC Milan Lineup Forecast (4-2-3-1): Maignan; Calabria, Kjaer, Gabbia, Hernandez; Adli, Reijnders; Pulisic, Loftus-Cheek, Leao; Giroud

AS Roma (4-3-3): Svilar; Celik, Mancini, Llorente, Angelino; Cristante, Paredes, Pellegrini; Dybala, Lukaku, El Shaarawy