Monchi: I can only say sorry to all the supporters

The Giallorossi were unceremoniously dumped out of the competition at the quarter-final stage at the Artemio Franchi, and afterwards Monchi was quick to acknowledge that the result was unacceptable.

“It’s very tough, perhaps the worst and most painful game of my career as a sporting director,” the Spaniard said. “It’s very tough.

“It’s a day where, right now, all we can do is apologise to the fans – to those who came here to Florence, and all of those back in Rome. They take the most pride in this club and so I can only say to them sorry, sorry, sorry.”

The director was asked how he could explain the manner of the collapse.

“I don’t think any of the players out there tonight wanted to play like that,” Monchi said.

“Sometimes everything goes wrong. Before the game, in the changing room, I was there and they all wanted to win – it was an important game for their development.

“The last five or six games, apart from the second half in Atalanta, we were growing as a group. Today we played terribly. The players wanted to do well but unfortunately they were not able to do that.”

He added: “We have tried everything [to turn things around]. I think that right now, the players need support – but I don’t think anyone is calm or content after today.

"We need to stay united as a group, both the players and the technical staff. The only way to get out of a tough moment like this is together.

“I don’t think today is the right day to punish us even more – we have already taken our punishment out on the pitch.”