Florenzi: The whole club was in that embrace

Alessandro Florenzi has emphasised the great sense of team-spirit that holds this Roma squad together - never more than during last month's poor run of form.

"The whole club was included in that embrace," said the Giallorossi midfielder whose goal opened the deadlock during the 2-0 win over Genoa. "Whoever got the goal would have gone straight to the bench to show that it's not just the players who've been through this period. We're all in it together – coaches, doctors and physiotherapists.

"It's been hard for all of us and it was great that everybody got involved in the celebration."

As for Roma's return to winning ways in the league, Florenzi was particularly pleased with the team's performance.

"I'm delighted to be back among the goals and even more so that it helped us on the way to victory. We showed heart, guts and character today and I think we saw Roma on good form.

"We've managed to get three points that can give us inspiration."

What's happened to Roma over the last month?

"When you're not picking up results and everything's going against you, your confidence can drop. I've been off-colour recently too – I wasn't backing myself in my game.

"I've taken things back to basics in order to gradually find top form again. I hope that from the next match on 6 January things will be much better."

Are you still in the title race?

"Of course we're still in the title race. There are so many matches still to play and we don't have a Champions League game until February. We have to make sure we pick up as many points as possible, starting with the very first game of the new year."

What can you do to get the fans back on side?

"There were fans who were booing at the start of the game but some of them started to get behind us even before my goal. The Curva Sud are absent from the games not because we did something wrong, but because they are fighting their own battle.

"I hope our fans are back where they belong after the Christmas break – in the stadium with no barriers. Then they can be our 12th man again."