Baldissoni: We’re disappointed not depressed

Roma general manager Mauro Baldissoni today apologised to supporters for the 6-1 Champions League defeat to Barcelona but ensured fans that the club can still meet its objectives this season.

While much has been written about the manner of the defeat at Camp Nou, Baldissoni insists that everyone at the club needs to remain calm and focused at times like this.

"I share the sense of sadness and anger, but I'm not depressed,” Baldissoni told Roma Radio on Friday morning. “Depression sucks out the energy that you need in order to do what needs to be done in these moments and react. Obviously we were very disappointed and I'll be honest in saying that we felt embarrassed.

“There's no other word to describe the match against Barcelona but an embarrassment. We're upset about it and I think it's only proper that we apologise to every Roma fan, especially those who travelled to the stadium. They wore the Roma colours with pride at the Camp Nou which is something that the team failed to do.

"We apologise for this. We're still developing and this team has shown that it can have these unexpected lapses from time to time. Evidently we've still got some growing up to do. We have to put the 6-1 defeat behind us but we mustn't forget about it.

“We should use experiences like these to help us mature so that we don't slip up so badly again. We will get over it. Thankfully as a team we can still reach our objectives relying on the ability we have. If we do manage to do this - we would have made even more progress and improved on previous years.

"Roma have embarked on a programme of mass improvements that is borne out by the facts. This is true of the organisation at the club, our financial stability and the technical qualities we have on the pitch – the results tell you all of this.

“If we qualify for the next round of the Champions League – which we believe is still possible – and we continue to fight and be competitive in the league, that would mean our performances on the pitch have got better. We have to continue to be calm and focused.

"I feel I should say this to everyone: It's not the end of the world, there's no need for panic and we haven't reached the last-chance saloon. We only need to have the desire to forget an awful performance that we cannot ignore. The defeat hurt all of us but the team above all. We can only apologise but for now we need to get back on the pitch and continue what we have been doing so far in order to hit our targets."

What do we bring to the pitch for Roma v Atalanta? The desire to bounce back after Barcelona?

"First of all we need technical ability, character and the right mentality, all of which weren't on show against Barcelona. Obviously, if we add the desire to bounce back then that will be a good thing."

Is it true that Rudi Garcia's job has been in the balance in the past few days?

"It's absurd that we have to repeat the same thing every week. We don't want to change the coach. Along with the players, he will be judged on the results. But you can't do that every week because decisions on the future of the head coach cannot be made after one match. In the long-term, everyone will be responsible for the results they deliver. There's the same desire to do well that has been shown seriously over the past few years.”

Some newspapers have quoted some comments from the president Mr Pallotta…

"Everyone has had their say on something that didn't happen. I'm a bit perplexed when I read comments attributed to someone who didn't say them. Nevertheless, I don't want to talk about this now because it's not relevant. When the president wants to speak, he does so publicly and come across very clearly. The versions you've read are not trustworthy."

How do we start again now?

"We've already started - we didn't stop for a moment. The analysis was carried out internally just like every week with the same objective as before. There's no reason to get depressed, we're angrier than before but we are also more aware than before."