Zalewski on Roma penalty: ‘I knew what to do’ | OneFootball

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

The Giallorossi had drawn 1-1 at the Olimpico, the same result as in Rotterdam a week ago, and could not be divided in extra time either.

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 pressure on the shoulders of Zalewski, a Roma youth academy product and local kid who only turned 22 last month, and he buried it.

“There were some thoughts in my mind, but the important thing was that I knew what do and where I would put the ball,” Zalewski told Sky Sport Italia.

“I knew that I had to pick a corner and go hard, because their goalkeeper does get down quickly, but he gets down quite low. I lifted it a bit and that went well.”

He was a substitute in extra time for exhausted Stephan El Shaarawy and jokes about his less than stellar performance.

“I wouldn’t say I came on well. I tried to give my best, but made a few mistakes, including one where I slipped. I was joking with the staff afterwards and said for every three offsides, I make up for it with a converted penalty.

“The important thing is that we won, now we want to continue our journey and not stop here.”

Zalewski’s agent commented that the Poland international is happier with Daniele De Rossi than Jose Mourinho, as he is finally being used as an attacking winger and not a defensive wing-back.

“When there is a change of coach, there is no time to lose. You have to be effective and lately I’ve been missing that, but I feel calm and the coach has faith in me, as do my teammates.”