Roma director general Mauro Baldissoni apologises after the Barcelona defeat – “it was embarrassing”.
The Giallorossi were battered 6-1 in the Champions League on Tuesday night, with reports of a rift between Coach Rudi Garcia and sporting director Walter Sabatini.
Speaking to Roma Radio, Sabatini’s fellow director appeared in no mood to lower the tension.
“I share the sadness and anger,” Baldissoni said.
Roma director general Mauro Baldissoni apologises after the Barcelona defeat – “it was embarrassing”.
The Giallorossi were battered 6-1 in the Champions League on Tuesday night, with reports of a rift between Coach Rudi Garcia and sporting director Walter Sabatini.
Speaking to Roma Radio, Sabatini’s fellow director appeared in no mood to lower the tension.
“I share the sadness and anger,” Baldissoni said.
“We’re sorry. It was embarrassing in Barcelona. We apologise to the fans, especially those who were in Barcelona.
“At the Camp Nou the flag was held high by the fans, because the players didn’t succeed. The team is proving to have unexpected slips, because they’re not finished the process of growth.
“We’re a team with objectives though, and we can still achieve them. Our objective is to improve compared to previous years.
“Roma have started a process of improvement which is borne out by facts, the results in the last two years testify to that.
“If we get to the Last 16 [in the Champions League] and remain competitive in Italy then we’ll have improved.
“There’s no apocalypse or despair here, but there is the desire to forget a bad beating. We can’t ignore it, but we have to go onto the pitch to achieve our goals.
“We need to focus on our technique, humanity and a desire for revenge and we’ll do well.”
Despite those harsh words, Baldissoni insisted Garcia’s job is not on the line.
“It’s absurd to think that we would change. The Coach and the results are evaluated, but not Sunday by Sunday. You can’t decide the fate of Coaches in that way.
“Everyone is responsible for the results, there’s the same desire as before.”
There were rumours that President James Pallotta had expressed his fury at the manner of the defeat, but the director general insists that’s not the case.
“It reminds me of a [Carlo] Vedone sketch where he’d talk on both sides of the Tiber and sail across and tell the other side what had been said, then they’d have their own interpretation of it.
“If you report statements of someone who hasn’t spoken, I’m perplexed. If the President speaks, you’ll know about it.
“We want to improve, with the exact same goals as before. There’s no need to get depressed.”