Bavagnoli promises improvements after record crowd

The Giallorosse opened their Serie A season with a defeat against one of their big rivals, with a late collapse the difference in a game that was intensely competitive for the first 70 minutes.

Over 2000 fans – a new record for the women’s team – were at Stadio Tre Fontane for the game, and Bavagnoli was quick to express her gratitude to all of them all for their support.

“Thank you to our fans,” she said. “I have never seen so many fans here before. We will give everything we have to try and give these fans the performances that they deserve.”

On the match itself, she added: “We were lacking in a few areas. It’s clear that a lot of our tactical elements still aren’t sorted out, because of all the new arrivals, and that played a role.

“We tried to create danger high up the pitch but Milan were working to do the same and we were not so good at managing the difficulties they posed. But I take responsibility for that, and we will work hard to get better.”

Last weekend, in their final pre-season friendly, Roma fought back from 2-0 down to grab a draw against Paris Saint-Germain. But after going behind on Sunday there was no such response.

“That’s what I told the girls when I got them together after full-time,” Bavagnoli acknowledged.

“First of all I congratulated them, because they believed and they had fought – but that ability to dig deep and bounce back that we saw last weekend against Paris Saint-Germain wasn’t there today.”

Sunday’s game was memorable for one player in particular: as defender Federica Di Criscio made the 200th Serie A appearance of her career.

Roma are back in action next weekend, as they travel to face Fiorentina in another big test.