Manolas: We weren't good enough

The visitors scored three second half goals at the Stadio Olimpico to decide the game, with Diego Perotti’s penalty equaliser on the stroke of half-time ultimately proving to be only a brief moment of hope for Claudio Ranieri’s side.

The result means Roma remain adrift in the race to finish in the top four, and qualify for next season’s Champions League.

“It was a tough defeat against an opponent that deserved to win – because they were better than us out there,” Manolas said.

“Clearly it’s difficult when you go behind after two minutes. But we got back on level terms, and then we conceded a second straight after half-time – and it’s difficult to bounce back from that.”

Despite the loss, Manolas insisted that the team can still turn things around.

“We really need to get back to our best,” he added. “Roma cannot not qualify for Europe. We cannot even consider that.

“A message for my teammates? That we never give up and always give everything we have, until the last minute. We need to be in Europe. If it’s not the Champions League, then at the least it needs to be the Europa League. We are in a tough moment but we must not give up.”