El Shaarawy reveals Roma advice for Tottenham battle | OneFootball

Stephan El Shaarawy reveals the advice new coach Claudio Ranieri gave Roma for tonight’s Europa League trip to Tottenham Hotspur. ‘He focused on our mentality.’

It kicks off at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London at 20.00 GMT.

You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens from this game, Lazio-Ludogorets and Fiorentina-Pafos on the Liveblog.

It has been a dismal 2024 for the Giallorossi, who are on their fourth coach after Jose Mourinho was sacked in January, then Daniele De Rossi in September and Ivan Juric earlier this month.

“More than tactical issues, the coach asked us to be very concentrated, physically intense and run hard,” El Shaarawy told Sky Sport Italia.

“We know a very tough game awaits us against a team in excellent shape, so we need a performance of substance, both technical and physical.”

It is a curious line-up from Roma, seemingly a 3-4-2-1 that can transform into a 5-4-1 formation.

El Shaarawy welcomes new Roma approach

NAPLES, ITALY – NOVEMBER 24: Claudio Ranieri AS Roma head coach before the Serie A match between Napoli and AS Roma at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on November 24, 2024 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images)

Ranieri made his debut on the bench – albeit in his third career stint at the club – in a 1-0 Serie A defeat to leaders Napoli.

“The coach focused on our mentality, we must give our all on the pitch. We’ve got to play with intensity, develop our game and give 100 per cent.”

Tottenham are a bit of a mixed bag, as they lost to Galatasaray and Ipswich Town, but are also fresh from a 4-0 Premier League victory over Manchester City.

“Spurs are very aggressive, they press high and so we must do well to find the right solutions,” added El Shaarawy.

“We need this for our confidence, to improve our position in the table and to prove that we can have our say in Europe, as we have done in recent years.”

Roma have just five points in the Europa League after four games.