Pellegrini: The fans will help us in the second leg

Lorenzo Pellegrini grabbed the crucial goal as Roma drew 1-1 with Leicester City in the first leg of their Europa Conference League semi-final tie on Thursday.

Pellegrini's strike means the two sides will go back to the Stadio Olimpico in a week with everything still to play for.

The Giallorossi took the lead early in the first half, but were pegged back after some sustained pressure in the second half at the Leicester City Stadium.

“It’s normal that you are going to struggle at times against an opponent as good as this,” Pellegrini said.

“It’s not easy to come here but we did well. We have only done a little bit of what we will need to do in the second leg. By digging deep we have managed to get a good result tonight.”

Is it true that there is a difference in intensity when you come up against English sides?

“There’s a bit of truth there; in the Premier League they are very good at the physical side of the game while perhaps focusing a little less on tactics. But the level is improving in Serie A too and I think we should be pleased about that.”

Your goal came from another great throughball from Nicola Zalewski…

“Nicola is really good and really helped us out a lot today. He knows what to do in one-on-one situations, and for the goal he dribbled into space and created an opportunity and I had the chance to run into space. Then he did a great job of getting it to me.”

Are you optimistic about the second leg?

“We are always optimistic – it is going to be difficult but we are playing in Rome, at our stadium and in front of our fans. We are ready and fired up to do the best we possibly can in the next game against them.”