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Football

24th Apr 2018

Daniele De Rossi lays wreath at Hillsborough memorial on behalf of Roma squad before Liverpool tie

A classy gesture from the Roma captain

Reuben Pinder

A classy gesture

Roma visit Anfield tonight for the first leg of their Champions League semi-final against Liverpool, in what is set to be an intense battle. The last time Roma reached the semi-finals was back in 1983-84, while Liverpool have not made the last four for 10 years. Neither side expected to get this far, and everything is to play for.

Roma captain Daniele De Rossi will be one of the key players on the pitch, anchoring the midfield and protecting the defence against Liverpool’s dangerous attack. He is also a key figure off the pitch. A true leader, he has taken the responsibility of being club captain extremely well since Francesco Totti’s retirement, and has all the ingredients of your archetypal Italian captain.

He exemplified the class with which he carries himself on Monday, when he laid a wreath at the Hillsborough memorial in Liverpool, in remembrance of those 96 people who died on April 15th 1989.

Respecting the local heritage when visiting another city is paramount, and in doing this De Rossi has shown the utmost respect for the people of Liverpool. The tragedy of that day should never be forgotten and the Roma captain has set an excellent example to his peers.