‘I knew what to do’

Nicola Zalewski assures he ‘knew what to do’ when taking the ultimate penalty in a Roma shoot-out win over Feyenoord within the Europa League play-off.

The Giallorossi had drawn 1-1 on the Olimpico, the identical outcome as in Rotterdam every week in the past, and couldn’t be divided in additional time both.

It went to penalties and Romelu Lukaku’s effort was saved, with Mile Svilar making two decisive stops on David Hancko and Alireza Jahanbakhsh.

That put the strain on the shoulders of Zalewski, a Roma youth academy product and native child who solely turned 22 final month, and he buried it.

“There have been some ideas in my thoughts, however the essential factor was that I knew what do and the place I’d put the ball,” Zalewski advised Sky Sport Italia.

“I knew that I needed to decide a nook and go arduous, as a result of their goalkeeper does get down shortly, however he will get down fairly low. I lifted it a bit and that went nicely.”

He was a substitute in additional time for exhausted Stephan El Shaarawy and jokes about his lower than stellar efficiency.

“I wouldn’t say I got here on nicely. I attempted to provide my greatest, however made a number of errors, together with one the place I slipped. I used to be joking with the employees afterwards and stated for each three offsides, I make up for it with a transformed penalty.

“The essential factor is that we gained, now we need to proceed our journey and never cease right here.”

Zalewski’s agent commented that the Poland worldwide is happier with Daniele De Rossi than Jose Mourinho, as he’s lastly getting used as an attacking winger and never a defensive wing-back.

“When there’s a change of coach, there isn’t any time to lose. You need to be efficient and recently I’ve been lacking that, however I really feel calm and the coach has religion in me, as do my teammates.”