Roma 1-0 win “highly deserved”, N'Dicka in front of a tense Hummels

MONZA, ITALY – OCTOBER 06: Ivan Juric, head coach of AS Roma, reacts during the Serie A match between Monza and AS Roma at U-Power Stadium on October 06, 2024 in Monza, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

A first-half penalty from Artem Dovbyk was enough to give Roma a “highly deserved” 1-0 win over Dynamo Kiev, according to coach Ivan Juric, who described 20-year-old Nicolò Pisilli as an “incredible talent”.

The Giallorossi ended a three-game winning streak and returned to victory, the first of their European campaign this season, although Juric believes the hosts alternated positive moments with periods where they lacked “confidence”.

Juric: Roma win against Dinamo Kiev “highly deserved”, “unbelievable” Pisilli

“There were moments when I liked the team a lot, while other moments I liked less because we lacked a bit of security and self-confidence,” Juric said after his team's first Europa League win against Dynamo Kiev, as quoted by TMW.

“But when I look at the chances we created, goals scored, corners and everything else, it was a well-deserved win.

I think we did very well in the final minutes by sitting deeper and creating a numerical superiority in defence. Our aggressiveness was very good, but it wasn’t the first time.”

Former Borussia Dortmund defender Mats Hummels was expected to make his Roma debut, but the coach admitted he is in direct competition with Evan N'Dicka, who played again today, “doing well.” “ and the German central defender is “over”.

“I see Hummels in (the same) position as N'Dicka and at the moment it seems to me that our defense is holding up well,” he explained.

“N'Dicka is doing well and is ahead (ahead of Hummels). But Hummels is a great professional and will have his chances.”

Given that N'Dicka was given the captain's armband, it will be very difficult to dislodge him from the starting XI.

Pisilli and Tommaso Baldanzi started in midfield this evening and the Giallorossi coach was happy with their performances, although he stressed they can all improve.

“I like Le Fee a lot, he can do it much better than today, but it was his first game,” claimed Juric.

“He is intelligent and sensitive. Baldanzi plays good, direct football, he runs towards the goal and that is a crucial aspect. Then he also performs the defense phase with Intelligence.

“We have a lot of young people who leave me very satisfied and who can still improve significantly.

“Pisilli is an incredible talent, he can do better because sometimes he runs too much and loses position.

“But I love coaching him, he is an incredible talent, humble, he controls the ball by pointing forward. He can play in the middle or a little more advanced.”