Roma coach Eusebio di Francesco admitted his side need to improve defensively and mentally after throwing away a two-goal lead against Chievo.
The Giallorossi looked comfortable at half time after goals from Stephan El Shaarawy and Bryan Cristante had given them a deserved lead, but they collapsed in the second half as the Flying Donkeys fought back to secure a point.
“The team defended badly at times, but created a lot, we could’ve finished the game and didn’t and that’s a mark against us,” he said.
“I’m p****d off, because this year we aren’t defending as a team, we aren’t reading the trajectory of the ball well. But to say that we’re on our knees physically isn’t correct.
“I was expecting a different approach, and this makes me angry. It’s a question of mentality and we need to work on it. We must not just look back though and put ourselves on trial. I saw good things today too, in the attacking phases.”
Next up for Roma is a trip to face Real Madrid in their opening Champions League game on Wednesday, but Di Francesco refused to use the potential distraction as an excuse.
“There mustn’t be an alibi,” he went on.
“It was vital for us to get three points to go to Madrid energised by a win in the league. Real must now be faced with passion, we must all give something more.”
Source: forzaitalianfootball.com