Roma manager hails Manchester United duo ahead of Europa League semi-final clash

  AS Roma manager has praised Manchester United duo Marcus Rashford and Bruno Fernandes ahead of the Europa League semi-final clash. United are preparing to host the Serie A side in the semis first leg on Thursday. The Red Devils qualified for the semis after having celebrated a 4-0 on aggregate win over Granada, while Roma reached the semis after celebrating 3-2 on aggregate win over Ajax. "I have experienced many games in the Champions League but I have to agree that this is the greatest game in European competition," he told ESPN. "To play a semi-final against Manchester United is maybe the biggest challenge in my career and European competitions." "They have amazing players who can decide in one situation one game and we have to pay attention these individual situations of Manchester United," Fonseca added. "I think Rashford is an amazing, amazing player. He’s having a great, great season. But I think Man United as a whole team are strong. "But I have to confess, we cannot think to go to Manchester to just defend. We have to have the ball because I don’t believe if you think just to defend near our box that we have a chance to beat Man United. "We have to have courage to play against Man United, to have the ball, to have the initiative, to counter-attack, defending as fast and as long as possible from our box. "I think it’s important not to allow Man United to go fast to attack and don’t allow them to arrive near to our box." "Bruno played many years here in Italy and just when he returned to Portugal with Sporting, where he had a great season," he continued. "The people understood the real value from what he did a Sporting, it was amazing. And what he’s doing in Manchester is also amazing. "He’s a player with a strong personality, he wants to win all the time. It’s true that he arrived a little late at Sporting but you can see he’s a player with big experience. "I think it was very positive the years he had here in Italy where the football is really difficult for a midfielder like him. "But he grew so much in Italy and he proved at Sporting he can play at the highest level, like he’s proving now in Manchester. "The main point is the character of Bruno. He’s a leader, he’s a fighter but he’s also a player with big quality and he’s very smart. "I’m not surprised about what he’s doing at Manchester where he arrived and immediately started to be an important player at Manchester United. "He’s confirming this, he’s confirming the quality and at the moment he’s one of the main players of Manchester United."   source - Metro / Join us on Telegram!/ Follow us on Twitter!

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