Cristante: Result more important than the performance

The Giallorossi will head to Belgium next week with a narrow advantage in the last-32 tie, thanks to Carles Perez's first half strike.

Relieved to get a win on the board after three successive defeats, here's what Cristante had to say after the game...

Did it feel to you like the performance dropped after the first 30 minutes?

“Everyone can see that we are not going through the best period right now. It was important to win, without necessarily putting on a show. It was important to be organised, to not concede and win the game.”

You are back and you seem to be sitting more between the defenders now, without so many attacking forays. Is that what the coach has asked you to do?

“Yes, building the play from three at the base means there’s less opportunity for me to push forward. In other spells, when there’s more calm around things then there is more chance to push on. Right now the most important thing is to make sure we have balance and we don’t concede goals.”

Was the drop in this performance a mental issue or a physical one?

“We are not the first and we we won’t be the last side to go through a tough spell. A lot of factors can go into it, and then when they come together it can create these obstacles. The most important thing, even in the tough moments, is to find a way to win without conceding goals. We need to get wins on the board to rediscover our form and our confidence.”