Fonseca frustrated by manner of goals conceded

Here's what coach Paulo Fonseca had to say after the game...

Could the penalty decision in the first half have changed the game?

“Yes, it would have been pivotal if we had scored before Parma. I think we started the game well. We had one chance through [Edin] Dzeko and then, with the first time they got into the final third, they scored. A team that wants to win games and wants to qualify for the Champions League cannot concede a goal like that. And that changed the game.

“Parma really needed these three points, it could have been a more open game [without that opener]. But they scored, they dug in and then we had difficulties with that.”

Roma seemed tired today – is that fair?

“I don’t want to talk about excuses. The truth is we cannot be conceding two goals like this: two attackers against four [defenders]. Because that changed the game. And then they dropped in deep and it becomes a lot harder to create chances against a side that sits back.”

In terms of the defence, you were twice punished by players getting in behind – is that because you went with three defenders that like to impose themselves on the play, whereas the missing Chris Smalling usually reads the play from deeper?

“No, I think the issue was in the central part of the pitch. It was a concentration issue for me. And when we are not focused then it becomes harder, because we end up conceding and that changes the game completely.

"It’s true that in the first half we did not move the ball around fast enough, not as fast as we could have done. Without that speed of play in the central area it becomes harder to score against a side in a low block.”

Given that difficulty moving the ball, did you not consider bringing on Bryan Cristante sooner?

“We did that. The truth is that Roger Ibanez is good with the ball at his feet too. But eventually we changed things and we found things a bit better with Cristante there in the middle. But Bryan has also played almost every game recently, and it was hard for him to play the full 90 minutes again today. However, yes, we did better once Cristante came on.”

Do Roma have an issue with creating chances in attack?

“I don’t think there is an issue with the forwards. Dzeko worked really hard today, his movement was good – but the ball didn’t come to him in a way that the strikers could do much with. And obviously against a side sitting deep like Parma, it is always harder for the forwards. If the ball does not come to them in good situations, then it is not an individual problem but a collective one.”

What have you said to the players after this game?

“I haven't said anything. With a few exceptions, I don’t speak to them straight after the game. I like to go home and watch the game back and then come to a few conclusions. As far as what happened today goes, we will talk about it with the players the next day. I want to be fair with my players.”