Monchi: We must find a balance after both victory and defeat

Sporting director Monchi called on his players to put Tuesday's excitement to one side and show their resolve to push on - by beating Crotone on Sunday.

The Giallorossi will return to Serie A action at the weekend having qualified for the quarter-finals of the Champions League for just the fourth time in the club's history - an achievement that Monchi rightfully feels everyone should take pride in.

"It’s important to find out if we’re on the right track because it doesn’t strike me as difficult finding the motivation to play for a spot in the Champions League quarter-final," Monchi said.

"But after the adrenaline of a game like this, knowing that we’ve achieved something huge, returning to league action against a tough team like Crotone, a difficult place to go, is a test of our growth.

"Against Crotone the important thing is to show the right attitude. They probably think we’re still thinking about the Champions League, the draw etc. and they can get at us from the get-go. Sometimes we should focus on what our opponents are thinking.

"We must have a good attitude from the start, to make them understand we’re fully focused on Crotone."

As he nears a year in his job as sporting director, Monchi was asked what he has made of the challenge in the Italian capital so far.

"My opinion after 11 months here, more or less, is that we need to learn how to manage both success and defeat," the Spaniard said. "This is the main problem we have here at Roma.

"The other evening was a great night for everybody, but we must carry on; we can’t rest on our laurels after one victory, or one defeat – it works both ways. But I think we’re on the right track. It’s not easy to change and move in the right direction, which we haven’t always done. I think this is our main issue."

He added: "I think on a sporting level we have to aspire to the same level as the organisation of the club. This is a modern, grounded and structurally sound club.

"The club’s growth can’t just be vertical but horizontal as well, in order to deal with the difficult moments."

With the Champions League draw coming on Friday, Monchi insisted he has no preference on who Roma are drawn against.

"It’s tough to say who is the best [in the Champions League quarter-finals]," he said. "They’re all difficult. I don’t think Chelsea deserved to lose 3-0 yesterday, but [Barcelona] have a player [Lionel Messi] who’s not normal in their team.

"Then there’s Real Madrid, a club that’s accustomed to winning everything; Juventus are on a successful run; Manchester City are the best of the lot in my opinion; Bayern Munich faced a good side in Besiktas, with top players, and won 5-0… But it’s a good sign that Roma are one of the eight clubs that qualified.

"I think our advantage at the moment is that the team are mentally strong and calm about what we might face later in the competition."

Finally, the ex-goalkeeper was asked about Roma's current No. 1 - Alisson Becker.

[Alisson] is so good, but above all he conveys a sense of calm and balance to the team," he noted. "This is so important for a goalkeeper because it means your team-mates have confidence in who’s behind them. This is vital.

"When I was playing, my team-mates used to joke, “We have to score today because Monchi is in net!”