Roma's Walter Sabatini defends Edin Dzeko after the Atalanta draw, and 'doesn't know' about Francesco Totti's future.
The Giallorossi's 3-3 against La Dea was arguably the most dramatic match of Week 33 so far, with unexpected turnarounds on both sides.
Roma's Walter Sabatini defends Edin Dzeko after the Atalanta draw, and 'doesn't know' about Francesco Totti's future.
The Giallorossi's 3-3 against La Dea was arguably the most dramatic match of Week 33 so far, with unexpected turnarounds on both sides.
“It's the type of game you can neither recount, nor understand, nor conceive,” Sabatini told the Press. “We should have managed the game better on the 2-0 and we didn't. Our defensive work was insufficient, but now we've got to accept the result and look ahead without moaning about it.
“It's a negative episode, the first after about ten games with Spalletti. It can happen, now we must start working again. Roma have the duty and the moral obligation to finish third.
“On Atalanta's first goal, [Lucas] Digne was doubling up on the wing only a few seconds before that. It was a fleeting moment that turned against us. He was suffering from a knock he took during the game, but he was still playing. An unfortunate episode.”
The sporting director then discussed Roma's two ace poachers, Edin Dzeko and Francesco Totti.
“People are going to disagree with me, but Dzeko had a good game and took part in all of our attacking plays. After he missed that sitter, his game changed.
“He's a player who deserves respect, and often people don't give him that. He's an excellent footballer. We're all very much on his side. If people look at the game again analytically, they'll see this is true.
“I don't know what Totti will do next year. I applaud the Coach for considering the players' behaviour, effort and physical condition. He's giving Totti playing time, and Totti is responding, scoring twice already.
“Football is unreadable. There's the club's will, and there's the pitch where players tell their tale. I don't think anything is going to change, but you've got to give credit to the player and the Coach for the important things they are doing.”