Mancini relieved after successful day as captain

Borja Mayoral scored the only goal of the game on an evening where Mancini led the side out - an honour that the Italy international admitted afterwards meant a lot to him.

“In the first half we were up against it a bit, we could have done better,” Mancini said.

“But we got the first goal and that helped us to get into the game a bit more. We are in a point in the season where all the games are starting to catch up on us. But we’ve brought home the three points and that is the most important thing.”

He added: “It’s amazing to wear the captain’s armband, thinking about all those who have won it before. Even if I am not Roman it’s a great feeling.

"I was a bit nervous at the start of the game because of it – I thought it might bring bad luck – but in the end everything went well.”

After Thursday's 2-1 win over Ajax in the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final tie, Roma can now focus on the second leg in four days' time.

“On Thusday we showed real substance to get a win in Amsterdam," Mancini added.

"Now we need to start focusing on the most important game of the season so far – as we try to reach the semi-finals of a big competition like the Europa League.”