Roma coach Daniele de Rossi says their 4-1 win at Monza was ideal preparation for their Europa League clash with Brighton.

Lorenzo Pellegrini, Romelu Lukaku, Paulo Dybala and Leandro Paredes struck the goals for Roma on Saturday. The Giallorossi meet Brighton in the first-leg of their round 16 tie this week.

"If this is Roma tonight, I must work to ensure we can play the same way on Thursday, then the game after that and after that," De Rossi told DAZN.

“This was already a united group before, I did nothing about that. If you are not solid, you don't go all the way in two consecutive European competitions.

“I try to be honest with players, treat them as human beings first and players second, to be clear if I see something I don't like. Obviously, I have an advantage that I already knew a few of them and was their teammate, so they went easy on me."

He added: "I worked on their fitness, tactics and my ideas of football. I like that we played better today than last week, the team is improving and understanding what I want from them, how to develop this style of football. It needs a real physical effort and work off the ball, otherwise it becomes futile.

“I try to put quite an attacking team out, as I know there are players who can score at any moment. There are characteristics that these players have which must be respected and made the most of."