Zdenek Zeman insists Roma are “not out of the running” for the Champions League after their draw with Inter and revealed injuries for Daniele De Rossi and Miralem Pjanic.
Zdenek Zeman insists Roma are “not out of the running” for the Champions League after their draw with Inter and revealed injuries for Daniele De Rossi and Miralem Pjanic.
“We played against a great Inter side and towards the end we started to feel the fatigue from the 120 minutes with Fiorentina in the Coppa Italia on Wednesday,” said the Coach after a 1-1 result.
“It’s a shame, as in the first half-hour we created numerous scoring opportunities. We played well. Osvaldo strayed offside several times, but on one occasion he was incorrectly stopped by the flag.
“This time we did not win, whereas I think Inter created more problems for us at San Siro when we won 3-1 earlier this season.”
Roma have slipped down to seventh place and are 10 points adrift of the Champions League positions.
“I continue to say we have to keep playing, as there are many games still to go. We do not feel that we are out of the running and hope to prove that on the field.
“We must continue to work and apply in the matches what we practice in training during the week.”
De Rossi was substituted at half-time, while Pjanic failed a fitness test before kick-off due to “persistent respiratory problems” after a bout of flu.
“De Rossi had a problem in his thigh and couldn’t carry on. We will evaluate the seriousness of the injury, but he said he felt it pull.”