Europa League: De Rossi names Boniface, Tella among Leverkusen’s dangerous players

AS Roma manager Daniel De Rossi is wary of the threat posed by Bayer Leverkusen duo Victor Boniface and Nathan Tella ahead of their UEFA Europa League meeting.

De Rossi’s side will entertain the newly crowned Bundesliga champions at the Stadio Olimpico in the first leg of their semi-final contest on Thursday.

Boniface, who was sidelined for around three months earlier in the campaign, has scored five goals and provided one assist in seven appearances in the competition this season.

Tella, on the other hand, has registered one goal and one assist in nine outings.

“Several things. They have strong players put in the ideal conditions to do well. They have a physical, solid team, but they also have great quality. Wirtz, Grimaldo. Schick has always been strong, but now he is a man. Boniface is strong. They have strong replacements,” De Rossi told a press conference.

“If Frimpong doesn’t play, Tella plays. They have quality players but also with great skill. They know how to play but they also know how to be direct. They have built a really strong team thanks to the coach’s ideas but also thanks to important signings.”