Massara acknowledges wasteful Roma paid the price

Diego Perotti's penalty was ultimately not enough for the Giallorossi, as goals from Caldara and Kessie - with a last-minute penalty - turned the game around for Gian Piero Gasperini's side.

"Lots of credit goes to Atalanta because they played excellently, especially in the second half when they had loads of intensity and we dropped off," Massara said. "We're frustrated because at the start of the game we created bags of chances and dangerous situations.

"We deserved to go into the lead and stuck to the coach's game plan. Roma were looking good and we were unlucky not to have a bigger lead at half-time. We paid for this in the second half."

What cost Roma the most in the second half?

"Atalanta grew into the game and we weren't able match them and counter as we could have done. There may also have been a drop in the energy levels of the players who were on international duty and felt a bit tired. Credit to Atalanta, though, they played with real quality and a high intensity. It's a shame because we wanted to take home a different result, but we'll bounce back immediately on Thursday."

Why can't Roma win when they're not playing well? This team always has to play at a top level.

"It's an astute observation: we win and we win well when we play pretty and spectacular football. When other aspects of the game come into play, we find it more difficult. It's something we have to work on but the coach will know how to address this as well."

It seemed there was a total blackout in the second half – what happened?

"I wouldn't say a total blackout. Atalanta are a physically strong side and perhaps we found this a bit hard to cope with. We give credit to their pressing which caused us problems. Nevertheless, if we had gone into half-time with a bigger lead, which would have been deserved, the game might have ended differently.

"We're left frustrated because a draw would have been a fair result based on the performances and it looked as if we had it in the bag. In this respect, the late penalty hurt us unfairly. We will bounce back: this team is ready to get back to winning ways and embark on another positive string of results like we had until today."