Roberto De Zerbi acknowledged Brighton’s 4-0 hammering at Roma was a reality check for his Europa League novices.
The Seagulls’ adventure in Europe turned into a nightmare at Stadio Olimpico after they conceded twice in each half to lose heavily in the club’s first ever European knockout tie.
First-half goals by Paulo Dybala and Chelsea loanee Romelu Lukaku put the visitors on the ropes, but worse was to follow with Gianluca Mancini and Bryan Cristante able to score in quick succession to essentially kill the last-16 tie ahead of next week’s second leg.
Defeat at Stadio Olimpico. pic.twitter.com/GRZjSN36nc
— Brighton & Hove Albion (@OfficialBHAFC) March 7, 2024
This defeat made it three in a row for injury-hit Brighton, who were without a number of key individuals, which has contributed towards their season derailing in recent weeks with poor Premier League form coupled with an FA Cup exit leaving the Europa League as the club’s main focus.
“We played our game. We gave our best. Maybe our best now is this performance,” De Zerbi admitted.
“I think Roma is much better in terms of experience to play this type of game and we suffer a lot. Too much I think. We are not used to playing this competition and today we paid everything.
“We paid (for) a squad not so long, we paid to play away in this stadium, we paid with too many injured players and for us, it is the first time so we have to improve.
“We have to progress and if we want to compete in this level, from the owner to the coach to the players we have to progress to reach one level higher.
“We are proud we reach this game. We know very well the situation. I know very well the situation.
“I spoke with the owner a lot of times before February on the transfer market and I told him the problems we are finding, but it is the first time Brighton plays this competition. Europa League final eight is a big level for us so we have to improve to progress.”
Roma broke the deadlock after 12 minutes when Leandro Paredes’ superb through ball found Dybala, who rounded Jason Steele and fired into the empty net with VAR subsequently awarding the goal.
Brighton did respond with Simon Adingra, who had an early cross deflected onto a post by Roma’s Evan Ndicka, able to pick out Danny Welbeck, but Mile Svilar denied the former England international’s header with his feet.
Welbeck would be thwarted again by Svilar before half-time, although by this point the hosts had extended their advantage.
A poor touch by Lewis Dunk from Paredes’ long ball allowed Lukaku the opportunity to dribble into the area where he slotted beyond Steele for his 18th goal of the campaign.
More Adingra magic created another opening early into the second period, but Welbeck scooped over and Roma hit Brighton with a double sucker-punch.
First, a Stephan El Shaarawy cross was poked home by Mancini, who had looked marginally offside but VAR awarded the 64th-minute goal before four minutes later another El Shaarawy centre was headed home by Cristante to ensure De Zerbi endured a night to forget on his return to Italy.
He told TNT Sports: “Yes, we create a lot of chance and maybe the same in terms of numbers, but if you watch the game, you can understand Roma played with different power, with different speed and with different habits I think. Habits to play this game.
“We are not used to playing at this level and so we showed our problems, but I love this club, I love these players and I know we played 20 per cent of our potential.”
Meanwhile, Brighton supporters’ were alleged to have had objects thrown at them inside Stadio Olimpico.
“We are aware of the bottles, coins and lighters being thrown by home supporters into the away end. We have reported to UEFA and Italian police and requested immediate action be taken,” a Brighton statement read.
Let's start our Daily Laugh today. He's Henry. Oh, he's the new Henry. Palmer's reaction after Nicholas Jackson didn't pass the ball How people count from 1 to 7 in different countries Since Kylian Mbappe left PSG a year ago, they have...Won the one trophy he couldn't while he was there: the Champions League Knocked his new club, Real Madrid, out of the Club World Cup Ousmane Dembele: PSG's Superm...
The future of Luis Diaz remains a topic at two of the biggest member-owned clubs in world football, as Bayern Munich and Barcelona both pursue Liverpool winger Luis Diaz. The Colombian has left his future open on multiple occasions, and with no sign of a new contract on the horizon, Liverpool are stuck between a rock and a hard place.Diaz reportedly has a gentleman's agreement with Liverpool that ...
Tyler Dibling has a lot of suitors this summerThe 19-year-old caught the eye during a disastrous season for Southampton which saw them relegated from the Premier League with just 12 points.Dibling was one of a very few bright sparks of the campaign and may well make an immediate return to the top flight.The Telegraph reported earlier this year that the Saints wanted an enormous £100m for thei...
Tottenham Hotspur have agreed a fee of around £55 million ($74.7m) to sign West Ham midfielder Mohammed Kudus, a source confirmed to ESPN's James Olley.The Ghana international has agreed a six-year contract, with a medical set to take place in next 48 hours, a source added.ESPN previously reported that West Ham had rejected a £50 million ($67.9m) offer from Spurs.Kudus, 24, has an £...
Milan explore move for Leverkusen's BonifaceAC Milan have officially opened dialogue with Bayer Leverkusen regarding the potential transfer of Nigerian striker Victor Boniface, according to Gianluca Di Marzio.Boniface previously came close to securing a move to Saudi Arabian side Al Nassr earlier this year, but the deal ultimately did not materialise. With his future at Leverkusen uncertain, Milan...
Renato Gaucho's Fluminense were eliminated from the Club World Cup by Chelsea.Fluminense's trip to the Club World Cup semi-final should net Brazilian coaches more respect, the club's manager Renato Portaluppi said on Tuesday, after their improbable deep run in the tournament ended in a 2-0 defeat to Chelsea.The former striker, who steered the team to the 1995 Rio de Janeiro championship as a playe...
Yan Couto’s Club World Cup spark fuels Borussia Dortmund ambitionsBrazil international Yan Couto has his sights set on locking down a starting spot at Borussia Dortmund, with confidence high after a standout Club World Cup.The right-back featured in every match for the Bundesliga giants before their journey ended in the quarter-finals with a 3-2 loss to Real Madrid in East Rutherford.Despite...
Tottenham and Liverpool to enter transfer race for Parma defender LeoniParma defender Giovanni Leoni is wanted by several clubs this summer and now it seems like Liverpool and Tottenham have entered the race for him.The centre-back is only 18 years old, but has already made 17 Serie A appearances after enjoying a rapid rise in Serie A in recent years since joining the side for just 34.1M from Samp...
Everton sign Villarreal striker Barry: The fans here are crazy people, I like this!Everton have completed the signing of Thierno Barry from La Liga side Villarreal The 22-year-old has become the club’s second signing of the summer as manager David Moyes continues to make drastic changes to his squad ahead of the new season. Barry joins on the back of an impressive debut season in La Liga, in...
Arsenal U18 v Manchester United U18: FA Youth Cup Quarter FinalArsenal’s preparations for the 2025-26 season are underway, and one of the most eye-catching developments at London Colney this week has been the presence of 15-year-old prodigy Max Dowman in first-team training. The highly rated youngster was involved in the senior squad’s pre-season fitness and technical sessions on Wedne...
- 1 Five players ask to leave Man Utd including Rashford, Antony, Garnacho and Sancho
- 2 Diogo Jota's wife arrives at chapel where tragic star's coffin is taken
- 3 Garnacho reveals he intends to stay in the Premier League after Man Utd departure
- 4 Lionesses captain Leah Williamson strips down to her underwear
- 5 Man Utd make shock move to Calvert-Lewin
- 6 Harry Kane, that's awful! England captain's error costs Bayern as Desire Doue & Ousmane Dembele send NINE-MAN PSG into Club World Cup semi-finals in feisty clash that sees Jamal Musiala suffer sickeni
- 7 Diogo Jota's family life with beautiful wife, cheeky sons, baby girl and dogs
- 8 Daily Laugh - If Arsenal get Gabriel Heinze
- 9 Transfer news & rumours LIVE
- 10 Transfer news & rumours LIVE