Luciano Spalletti admits he’d “get angry” if Roma had that late penalty awarded against them and tried to warn his men about Cesena.
The Serie B side arguably played better in the Coppa Italia quarter-final, wiping out Edin Dzeko’s goal with Luca Garritano, but at the 95th minute the hosts received a debatable penalty for Kevin Strootman clattering into the goalkeeper.
Luciano Spalletti admits he’d “get angry” if Roma had that late penalty awarded against them and tried to warn his men about Cesena.
The Serie B side arguably played better in the Coppa Italia quarter-final, wiping out Edin Dzeko’s goal with Luca Garritano, but at the 95th minute the hosts received a debatable penalty for Kevin Strootman clattering into the goalkeeper.
“I will try to be as honest as possible. In my view it was a penalty, but if they give that against me, I might get angry! It’s still a penalty. We weren’t given one on Sunday and that was a penalty,” Spalletti told Rai Sport following the 2-1 result.
“People have tried to compare our statistics with others, but last season I had half a campaign before receiving a spot-kick. We didn’t try comparing or complaining, we just focused on climbing up the table.
“When you play these games against this type of opponent, it almost always ends up that way. I tried over the last few days to warn the squad, reminding them Cesena had already knocked out two Serie A teams. I changed things to ensure there were fresh legs. Nothing.
“We were playing decent football, it wasn’t terrible, but the aggression and pace of Cesena caused us problems. In the second half we wasted a few chances that could’ve made it easier.”
Francesco Totti had his first start of 2017 and converted the late penalty.
“If you play him in training, in the garden with his son or in a Coppa Italia quarter-final, he always seeks the moment of magic. He is the Muhammed Ali of football, as he always goes for the knockout blow.
“With him on the pitch, we need to give him the ball! Some people were heading to the parking lot before he brought them back.”
Diego Perotti went off during the first half with a muscular problem.
“He felt this pull and we’ll see what the tests say, but he’s certainly not going to play this weekend.”