Former 'Roma' striker Roberto Prutso emphasized that in the second leg of the Europa League Round of 16 against the 'Athletic' club, it should be Ukrainian Artyom Dovbik playing instead of Uzbek Eldor Shomurodov in the starting lineup.
Prutso stated: "Dovbik or Shomurodov? Dovbik should take the field in the game against 'Athletic'. If Shomurodov takes Dovbik's place in the starting lineup again, it could lead to problems for the team. I have great respect for Shomurodov's work, but today Dovbik can utilize his experience in Spain to demonstrate himself psychologically."
According to Prutso, Dovbik's experience and mental stability could be even more important for 'Roma' in the second leg. This, of course, depends on how the team performs live. He noted that in the first encounter with 'Athletic', Dovbik started in the lineup, and although 'Roma' won that match, it is worth mentioning that Shomurodov scored the goal.
It should be noted that the first match between 'Roma' and 'Athletic' ended with a 2:1 victory for the Italian club. Shomurodov has also played in the starting lineup for 'Roma' in four of the last five matches, which demonstrates his place and importance in the team.
The issue of Shomurodov starting in the lineup, as Prutso mentioned, could affect the team's success and future games. Acknowledging the importance of experienced players working together, Prutso expresses more confidence in Dovbik's direction in the game.
