Alberto De Rossi hails ‘flawless’ Primavera display

Two goals in three first-half minutes courtesy of Marco Tumminello and Abdullahi Nura were enough to secure a 2-1 win over Bari on Saturday but what pleased De Rossi more than the three points was the manner in which they were won.

“The team put in one of their best displays of the season - we dominated proceedings by moving the ball quickly,” enthused De Rossi. “We created lots of chances and were equally wasteful but, ultimately, we secured a richly-deserved win. I'm delighted with the team's approach tactically, technically and mentally, as they kept playing football, creating chances and trying to score despite leading."

Are you pleased with how you defended today?

“Yes, we played as a team and everyone did their bit. Bari boasts a number of striking options that few teams in the Primavera league can match. They are dangerous and scored after we lost the ball when we were controlling the game."

Empoli beat Lazio today - will it be a two-horse race between you and the side from Tuscany in the group?

“We'll look at the league table further down the line. We still have to improve tactically and play in our new formation. Empoli's strength is nothing new to us. It's a completely different league this year, it's competitive and exciting. Anyone can beat you, anyone can cause you problems."

The only change came a few minutes from full time. Does that show how pleased you were with your side's performance?

“Absolutely, the team stayed nice and compact. We could have brought on fresh legs but a substitution could also have had an impact on our defensive cover, so I only wanted to make a change come the end and due to an injury. This is not a slight on the guys on the bench but I didn't want to impinge on what was a flawless team display."

Alberto De Rossi's youngsters lead Group C after 7 weeks of the season with 19 points, three clear of Empoli. Next up the Giallorossi travel to Palermo before their UEFA Youth League match against Bayer Leverkusen at Trigoria on Wednesday, November 4, kick-off 14:00 CET.