Roma coach Daniele de Rossi was delighted with their 4-0 Europa League rout of Brighton.

Roma are now in control of their round 16 fixture with the second-leg in England to come.

De Rossi said: “I didn't do much really, it just all slotted into place straight away and I'm very happy.

“The players I found here are very talented, I said it from the first day, we are winning the games that Roma ought to be winning. We're a great squad and therefore we win, there's nothing special in that.

“In 2024 you need to run hard and the players always give me a strong response on the pitch.

“Look, I don't want to minimise how happy I am with the performance, and I did see a lot of things I liked, but in the second half we could've held the ball better.

“I love De Zerbi, so to prepare for a game against him you need to work twice as hard. I admit that I really drove the players a bit mad.

“There was a very big difference in quality between Spinazzola and Buonanotte. Leonardo was in great shape recently and we were convinced we could create goals down that flank.

“You must respect your opponent in these matches, and Roberto's teams always know what to do. However, you are acting as if I painted some masterpiece, perhaps the result is a bit too harsh and our goalkeeper had some saves to make too.

“Nobody is perfect, but the lads were fantastic tonight, including Lukaku and Dybala's work off the ball. This is the kind of attitude you need in these games, otherwise you risk getting hammered.

“I know that you are going to start with this, I know this city very well. This is the last thing on my mind. I am doing a job that I love, with satisfaction I didn't know I could receive in such a short space of time."