Nainggolan: We lacked killer instinct

“We lacked that killer instinct in front of goal,” Nainggolan said after the game. “We had chances but the whole side needs to give a bit more.”

Roma stormed into a 2-0 lead at the Stadio Atleti Azzurri d’Italia, with first Lucas Digne and then Nainggolan himself finding the net, but Atalanta scored three to turn the match on its head before Francesco Totti grabbed a late equaliser.

“We kept trying to play football after we went 2-0 up and we were looking good out there," the Belgian added. "But then they made it 2-1 and then 2-2 – from that moment on it became a tough match. We went 3-2 down so at the end of the day the only positive is that we salvaged the result and avoided defeat."

Is this a draw that feels more like a defeat?

“Yes, we went 2-0 up then made two errors. We got lots wrong today. It seems like whenever we have a chance to gain ground we’re unable to take it – maybe that’s what we’ve been lacking generally this season. If we’d won today we would have kept Inter at arm’s length, but now it gets a bit harder.”

Was it a psychological problem? Did the pressure affect you?

“We kept trying to play football after we went 2-0 up and we were looking good out there. But then they made it 2-1 and then 2-2 – from that moment on it became a tough match, one we could have lost or won. We went 3-2 down so at the end of the day the only positive is that we salvaged the result and avoided defeat.”

You need to focus on defending third spot now…

“We go out there with the intention of winning every game. It’s in our own hands – even more so now given that Inter have cut the gap. Let’s focus on winning all of our games between now and the end of the season, then we’ll see what happens.”