Nicolò Zaniolo powered Roma past Bodo/Glimt with a hat trick in what was arguably the best performance of his career. He is only the second player born after January 1999 to score at least two braces in European Cup eliminations. The other is Erling Haaland, Heaven informed.
The starlet spoke to that Press after the final whistle: “We played the game the coach asked of us. We were perfect in both phases. We will now be happy about this win and the semifinals. I’m particularly happy because we were successful. I’ve helped the team move forward and we’ve shared it with all these fans who are always here to support us.”
Zaniolo came out of an up and down and wasn’t sure if he was going to start against Bodo/Glimt: “I always try to keep the right balance. It was a fantastic night but I have to keep my composure as has happened in some tough times. The supporters have always had my back, even during my recovery. I may have experienced more affection when I was down than in other situations. I would have liked to have played in the derby, but I respect the manager’s decisions. He was right because we won three to zero. I am available to the squad at any time.”
José Mourinho charged the starlet: “There’s always too much talk around Zaniolo and debates about whether he’s going to start or not, whether he’s injured or fit. It would be better for us and for Italian football if we left him alone. Some said he wouldn’t be in the XI today and we kept it quiet. We knew he would be important to attack the room. He will now make headlines for positive reasons.”
