Athletic Bilbao coach Ernesto Valverde insists Roma have more experience than his side ahead of today’s UEFA Europa League opener. While this is the Basque outfit’s first-ever meeting with the Giallorossi, Valverde has already faced the Italian giants as a manager.
Valverde was in Barcelona’s dugout when Roma famously thrashed the Catalan heavyweights 3-0 in the return leg of their 2017/18 Champions League quarter-final tie to progress as aggregate winners. However, a lot has changed at the Stadio Olimpico since that memorable triumph.
For starters, Roma changed the coach last week. Club icon Daniele De Rossi made way for Ivan Juric, who inspired the capital-based side to a thumping 3-0 win against Udinese on his touchline debut. Despite Roma’s sluggish Serie A start, Valverde knows they’re no idle threat.
“Roma changed coach and had a great performance against Udinese, so I wouldn’t really know how to evaluate their form. Coaches need time, but often we are not given that, it all depends on results,” Valverde said, as reported by Pagine Romaniste.
“In any case, Roma have started a new era playing the first game well. We just have to look at their summer signings to know how strong they are. This is a team that includes players like Paulo Dybala, Bryan Cristante, and Gianluca Mancini.
“This was a team built to play in the Champions League, so there are many reasons for us to be cautious. We are up against a team with great players.“
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