Di Francesco hails 'big players' for changing the game

Federico Fazio scored in the first half to cancel out an early Benevento goal and, after Edin Dzeko had given Roma the lead, it was Cengiz who took over proceedings with a brace that put the result beyond doubt.

Gregoire Defrel scored a penalty in injury time to add to the good mood at the final whistle.

"I'm pleased that my big players are changing games," Di Francesco said afterwards. "Sometimes individual moments are just as necessary as team moves.

"His movement was key in scoring the goal. We were doing similar things before as well, but we'd hit the ball into the stands or otherwise fail to convert our many opportunities. Cengiz [Under] did well tonight; mentally he's in a great place. He managed to convert everything that fell to his feet.

"We lacked aggression at the start and were slow coming out with the ball, but then the team created a lot going forward and we finished much of it off. Nevertheless, I'm much more annoyed about the two goals we conceded."

Have things improved in attack? You were much more clinical.

"This should be the starting point towards successfully putting together the bulk of our play. It was important for Edin [Dzeko] to score, and Greg Defrel too, who is always ready. His team-mates really wanted him to take the penalty, this shows you the lad's attitude within the squad."

Is there anything to read into Dzeko's angry celebration?

"He was hunting for a goal in the first half also, but their goalkeeper was tremendous. He lives for goals and after finding the net, you saw his attitude in helping team-mates and creating plenty as part of the team's moves. He can often be affected psychologically when he's not scoring, so I'm pleased he managed to today."

A brace and an assist for Cengiz, should someone apologise to Monchi?

"Here we shouldn't apologise to anyone: today we were good and by tomorrow we won't have been. It's always like this. There are many players like Cengiz, who is 20 years old. He comes from a different football culture and a different world, we need to be patient. We're not used to being patient with young Italians, let alone foreigners. We build them up and knock them down very easily. I'm helped when working with youngsters, but the truth is always somewhere in between: you have to be patient with some players."

What went wrong in the first half?

"We were too slow with the ball and didn't play it in behind enough. When we played forward quickly, we looked better. In the second half, we took up better positions, playing forwards and wide."

Can Cengiz impose himself as a leader of the team?

"He can become a leader, but he needs to improve. He's doing additional training as well. I like players who grow into leaders on the pitch. I need players who can take responsibility, like he did today."

When will Patrik Schick get back in the starting line-up?

"When he's back training regularly. He came back today after an injury. He needs a bit of time and he'll also become an important player."

It's the first time this season that you've managed to win from a losing position.

"I must say the squad is different after the transfer window. They were solid and wanted to secure the result, in full knowing there might be a struggle. They had nothing to lose: there were all the ingredients for a tricky, risky game, but we did well to have patience and complete the comeback."