Roma skipper Lorenzo Pellegrini has accused Bodo/Glimt manager Kjetil Knutsen of "attacking" the club’s goalkeeper coach following Thursday night's clash.
The Giallorossi met the Norwegians for the third time in this Europa Conference League and once again failed to get one over their opponents. Having lost 6-1 to Glimt in October and drawn 2-2 in November, Roma were beaten 2-1 in the first leg of their quarter-final tie.
Jose Mourinho ’s side took the lead in Norway, with Pellegrini opening the scoring moments before the half-time whistle. But the hosts got themselves back into the game 10 minutes after the break, before Hugo Vetlesen scored a last minute winner to ensure they have a slender lead to take to Stadio Olimpico next week.
The winner sparked wild scenes of celebration, but Roma’s goalscorer claims the scenes quickly turned ugly with keeper’s coach Nuno Gomes allegedly assaulted by Knutsen. “Something truly unpleasant just happened,” the captain told Sky Sport Italia.
"The changing rooms are opposite and Knutsen began to say something to our coach and then attacked . It is an unpleasant act for competition and fair play. Sorry because we came here with respect, but such acts are an insult to Rome and to the competition. It is a shame . "
Sky Sport Italia claim that Norwegian police interviewed Knutsen, Gomes and the players that were said to be witnesses of the incident.
Roma will now need to overturn the one-goal lead, likely without Gianluca Mancini who suffered a knee injury with 20 minutes to go. Pellegrini slammed the use of an artificial pitch at such a late stage of a tournament and insists his team-mates are now desperate to progress due to the incidents both on, and off the pitch.
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He added: “The shame is reaching a quarter-final where the ball bounces and you have no idea where it’s going to go. However, that mustn’t be an excuse, because in a week’s time there is a battle we want to win.
“I am honestly still shaken by what I just saw, it’s absolutely shameful. Now we want to send Bodo home, also because of what happened off the field.”
Mourinho also spoke of his unhappiness about the playing surface, but insists his team are still in the driving seat to book their place in the last four: “To be honest, the thing that worries me the most is the injury for Mancini. It’s a concern, it’s something caused by playing on a plastic turf. “We lost 2-1, we have the second leg to play at the Olimpico in front of our fans and I have no problem saying right now that I feel we are the favourites to reach the semi-final.”
