Manolas angry at mistakes and lack of character

The Giallorossi had already qualified for the knockout stages but extended a run of five games without a win with the defeat at the Doosan Arena, despite Cengiz Under’s second half strike.

Speaking after the game Manolas, who captained the side for the first time on the night, was quick to acknowledge the side had not defended well enough.

“We conceded two goals that we should have done much better with, that you don’t concede if you are a top side,” Manolas said.

“If you want to go a long way in the Champions League, or finish in the top four in the league, you can’t concede like that.”

He added: “We didn’t think about the fact the game would not affect the standings, we always go out there to try and win.

“We have lost to a side that is not our equal, so clearly it’s not good. We have to find the spirit required to bounced back because if we keep going like this it only gets harder.”

The Giallorossi will now turn their attention to Sunday’s home game against Genoa in the league, and a chance to turn around the recent run of poor form.

“I don’t know what we are lacking, I see a squad that knows exactly what it has to do in training but for some reason in games we are unable to reproduce that,” he said.

“We lack spirit, we need to have more character.

“Genoa is a massive game now, it’s a tough one and another we have to win. We need to go out there with the right focus to pick up a crucial three points – because we are too far down the league at the moment.”