Roma will host Athletic Bilbao in the first round of the UEFA Cup league stage on September 27 at 3:00 a.m. Beijing time. Prior to the match, Roma defender El Mozo attended a press conference to share his thoughts and preparations for the upcoming match.
El Mozo admits that he is gradually adapting to his new surroundings and trying to get back to his best for this crucial match. "Obviously, for me it's a gradual process of adapting to the new team, getting to know my teammates, and improving my physical condition. Competing at a high level in such an important game is a necessity." He said that while getting back to 100 percent is extremely difficult for professional players, everything is going according to plan. "I'm getting to know the team, am adapting as best I can and am gaining the necessary confidence to face a game like this in the best possible way."
Speaking about the opportunity to join Roma, Hermoso singled out De Rossi's role. "I was able to come here thanks to De Rossi's program. He reached out to me and gave me the opportunity to join a team with such great players. I'm very happy to be here in this beautiful city with a fantastic fan base, similar in some ways to Atletico Madrid's fans, who are people who genuinely love soccer."
El Mozo has a wealth of experience against his upcoming opponents, Athletic Bilbao. "This is a team with a very clear structure, fighting, dedication and team solidity are their weapons. I have played against them many times and know their strengths and weaknesses. But more importantly, we have to show the same determination, grit and fighting spirit in our games and make sure that our midfield and attacking flair can solve the game for us."
When asked if Roma are ready for the Champions League, El Mozo said that the team has great potential but needs time to get used to the intense pace of the game. "The players have come from other leagues and they are not used to playing such an important game every three days. So it's important to get used to the pace, be strict with themselves and set higher goals." He emphasized that Roma have a squad that is fully capable of competing at Champions League level and just need to keep raising the bar to achieve that goal.
In addition, Hermoso spoke about the differences between Serie A and La Liga. "Serie A has a higher and stronger level of physical confrontation, with more emphasis on individual confrontation and tactical organization. Spanish soccer, on the other hand, is more focused on passing and possession, with teams standing wider. These differences allow me to focus more on every detail of the game to meet the different challenges."
