Roma coach Paulo Fonseca admits they will ‘discuss that internally’ after making too many substitutions, but insists they ‘did enough to win’ against Spezia.
The Giallorossi crashed out of the Coppa Italia Round of 16, 2-2 after 90 minutes, 4-2 at the end of extra time.
Roma coach Paulo Fonseca admits they will ‘discuss that internally’ after making too many substitutions, but insists they ‘did enough to win’ against Spezia.
The Giallorossi crashed out of the Coppa Italia Round of 16, 2-2 after 90 minutes, 4-2 at the end of extra time.
Incredibly, they would’ve lost by default anyway, as the team made six substitutions rather than the five that were allowed.
“If there is a problem, we have time to discuss that internally. There is a problem,” the coach told RAI Sport.
This is not even the first time this season that the Lupi have fundamentally misunderstood the rules of the game, as they were also given a 3-0 defeat to Hellas Verona for fielding Amadou Diawara as an ineligible player.
Roma were 2-0 down within 15 mins due to an Andrij Galabinov penalty and Riccardo Saponara curler, seemingly a hangover from their 3-0 defeat to Lazio on Friday.
“We had a difficult start to the game with the penalty, which was a difficult situation to understand. After that, we created many chances, missed many goals, and then with two players down, it was difficult.
“This is a tough moment, we wanted to go further in the Coppa Italia, but I cannot complain about the attitude of these lads. We have to prepare the next match.”
They could easily have avoided going into extra time, as Borja Mayoral missed at least two open goals.
“When we moved to two strikers against Lazio, the team didn’t work as well. We created plenty of scoring opportunities tonight, so I don’t think it was a tactical issue.
“We want to keep possession, but the goals we conceded were not because we build from the back.”
Fonseca was asked why Bryan Cristante continues to be used as a centre-back when his team is leaking goals.
“Over 90 minutes, with 11 men against 11, Spezia didn’t create much at all. It’s important to have a player with Bryan’s quality to start moves from the back and he did very well this evening.
“We lost to Atalanta, Napoli and Lazio because after conceding a goal, we didn’t have the mental strength to turn it around. However, tonight I saw the right reaction to going 2-0 down, we got it back to 2-2 and had chances to win it before extra time.
“I think what we created over the 90 minutes should’ve been sufficient to win the game.”
Following the heavy defeat to Lazio in the Derby della Capitale and this Coppa Italia exit, is Fonseca under pressure?
“I’ve been up for debate since the first day I arrived. We are in the position we want in Serie A, I trust the team and every week I don’t win, I get asked these questions. I just have to keep doing my work.”