Simone Perrotta admits Roma like to do things the hard way, but he is not handing out blame to Kevin Strootman or Morgan De Sanctis.
The duo have fallen under scrutiny for their respective parts played in the Giallorossi’s last-gasp equaliser conceded at CSKA Moscow, which has impeded their Champions League group stage campaign.
Simone Perrotta admits Roma like to do things the hard way, but he is not handing out blame to Kevin Strootman or Morgan De Sanctis.
The duo have fallen under scrutiny for their respective parts played in the Giallorossi’s last-gasp equaliser conceded at CSKA Moscow, which has impeded their Champions League group stage campaign.
“It is clear that there is regret. We will be playing for everything in front of our fans [against Manchester City],” former Lupi man Perrotta has now considered on the game to Radio Roma.
“It would have been too simple otherwise. We were good at this when I was playing, I remember the Coppa Italia Final where we defeated Inter 6-2, but at San Siro we risked making things complicated for ourselves. I hope we can advance to the Last 16.
“Did Roma pay for inexperience against CSKA? It is a series of circumstances, moments can happen where you would like to do more, but you cannot, as happened in the final 15 minutes yesterday.
“Now the blame is on Strootman, but it was not easy to come off the bench and quickly get into a game like that.
“Whoever is looking at Strootman is someone who has not played a game like that. In front of the television it is always easy to judge.
“It is not his fault, the team was too deep, whilst with 10 seconds to go they were protecting their goal. With a cool head we can review everyone’s mistakes. I do not see the error as down to De Sanctis either.”
It was put to Perrotta that Roma may suffer psychologically for yesterday’s late setback.
“The 7-1 against Bayern drew much attention too, but I am sure that the draw from yesterday is already in the past.
“Roma have a very important game with Inter that can be used to remove the waste, which I do not think there is, from the trip to Moscow.
“This is an environment that thrives on peaks, and if there is a setback the criticism comes with ease. This is a team, though, that great satisfaction can be taken from.”
Talk has centred this season on Roma making a successful push for the Scudetto.
“Certainly it is more difficult this year than last year. Last year Garcia arrived after the Coppa Italia Final defeat to Lazio, but now the players are all at his disposal.
“The problem comes because this year it will be difficult to go again in terms of points picked up over the season, whilst you also have to hope that Juventus will not reach over 100 points again.
“But, this first part of the season has shown Roma are there. Every team has a moment of difficulty like Roma, and Juventus are yet to have theirs.”