Di Francesco: We need to respond better to setbacks

The Giallorossi fell to a 2-0 defeat at the Stadio Olimpico, as Andrea Petagna and Kevin Bonifazi scored either side of half-time for the visitors.

See what the boss had to say about the game...

Roma started off well today then you became impatient and lost your shape, and the penalty changed the course of the game. What happened?

“The penalty happened. I was happy with the way we played in the first half, apart from our final ball. Our crossing wasn't very accurate and we seemed to be lacking a bit of determination to score but we were clearly in control of the game until SPAL got the penalty. They didn't have a single shot on goal. We were defending well, keeping a high line, but our final ball wasn't good enough.

“The penalty changed the game then in the second half we rushed things too much. We didn't understand how we needed to play once they went down to ten men. That really riles me: we should have created situations with a numerical advantage in the wide areas instead of just hoofing it upfield. We made it easy for SPAL. They came here and played their game but we deserved to be ahead in the first half.

“You can't afford to make mistakes during games. I got angry because we need more focus and application from everyone. I want them on their toes at all times. It's too easy to feel gratified and ease off here in Rome. Luckily we have another game on Tuesday so we can show people we're not the team of the second half today. We were good in the first 45 minutes but weren't able to turn our dominance into goals.”

Did you think it was a penalty?

“Luca [Pellegrini] is a talented lad but he was a bit naïve there. I don't know how much contact there actually was with [Manuel] Lazzari. I think he went down very easily.”

Were Roma perhaps lacking a spark after SPAL scored?

“Absolutely. We didn't deserve that half-time scoreline but we can't lose heart. We must be able to react. Perhaps we're not able to perform at our best when we run into difficulties, or maybe we don't try hard enough, but that mustn't happen, especially with the quality footballers we have here.

“We didn't manage the second half well. [Edin] Dzeko had a great chance and then we conceded again – that takes the wind out of your sails but you have to carry on playing and show you're able to come back from it. The team must be capable of doing that. Last year we did it really well.”

Dzeko didn't take any of his chances...

“He had some good chances and wasn't able to make the most of them but he's been scoring for fun recently. He's always in the thick of things, always a threat. He didn't manage to score today but we can't lay the blame entirely at his door. Of course he's important but all of our play around him should have been better. We needed to think about what we were doing a bit more.”

Are the players a little insecure? Do they struggle to fend for themselves in certain situations?

“I can't say the opposite is true. You mustn't let difficulties get you down in this game. We lacked grit and determination. It happened too often that we got stretched after losing possession and that mustn't happen. You can't stop when something goes wrong; you have to stay compact. Perhaps we're not able to play at our best unless we're really under pressure. Some of the lads were away on international duty but we knew what we had to do. Maybe we lacked the desire and the grit to try things on the pitch.”

After nine games you've conceded twice as many goals as last season – and today from a set-piece. Is Kostas Manolas essential in those situations?

“The situations we conceded from were different with and without Manolas. We lost to Bologna and Milan with him in the team. It's too simplistic to say it all depends on him, though it's true that he's good at defending set-pieces. We had [Federico] Fazio and Dzeko in there who are excellent in the air. Our positioning could have been better but sometimes you have to give credit to the opposition too. We didn't lose the game because of that corner when they scored their second. It was our attitude, our lack of desire to keep going despite the difficulties. If we play the ball long instead of out wide, it means we haven't figured out what we need to do, especially once they went down to ten men.”