Roma President James Pallotta insists “the team deserves to be applauded, not whistled at” for Champions League qualification.
The patron flew in from America for this decisive game, a 0-0 draw with BATE Borisov, and the very small Olimpico crowd – 29,000 – jeered at the final whistle.
Roma President James Pallotta insists “the team deserves to be applauded, not whistled at” for Champions League qualification.
The patron flew in from America for this decisive game, a 0-0 draw with BATE Borisov, and the very small Olimpico crowd – 29,000 – jeered at the final whistle.
“I think the guys came out in the second half and showed a lot of emotion. They showed a lot of emotion at the final whistle too and we’re going into the 16,” he told LaRoma24.
“I wish on a daily basis that some of you would leave these guys alone. They’re a good group of guys. It is seriously getting tiring that on a day by day basis the stuff that people continue to make up and beating up on these guys.
“The team deserves to be applauded for qualifying, but it’s frustrating when you come here and they’re getting whistled at when they pass it back to the goalie because of the stuff that’s being written or said on the radios all the time.
“At some point you’re going to have to grow up and start treating them with the respect that they all deserve.
“They’re in the Round of 16, they work hard at it, they all care about it and at some point you’re going to have to stop beating them up.”