Saelemaekers prior to Porto-Roma: “We need the right mentality” | OneFootball

Speaking ahead of Roma’s crucial Europa League playoff against Porto, Alexis Saelemaekers spoke to Sky Sport about the importance of the match and what he expects from the Portuguese side.

The Belgian emphasized the Giallorossi’s determination to match the host’s intensity and play with confidence as they seek a strong result in the first leg.

“Every game is important for us, whether in Serie A or the Europa League,” began Saelemaekers.

“Today will be a tough match because Porto is a strong team and difficult to face. But we have to play our game with the same mentality we had over the weekend. If we do that, we can have a great performance.”

He continued, “Porto is a great team with a rich history and many quality players. They will want to perform well, especially since it’s the first leg and they’re playing at home in front of their fans.”

“I expect them to come forward aggressively from the start. But we must stay focused, play with the right mentality, and if we do that, we can achieve something special.”