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Here is what the Roma coach had to say.
The team played their own game and never stopped. Our substitutions made the difference. There are many positives that come to mind, but their spirit is what really shows how mature this group is.
“Yes, except for the first thirty minutes: in that phase, Napoli outperformed us, we struggled in our build-up play and in creating something. After that, we played a good final part of the first half. Then there was the second half. We had many chances and believed we could win. Napoli’s third goal could have been the end for us, but we managed to score the equaliser, with a lot of energy and belief.”
You showed a lot of character, because you never lost control. You remained sharp, with ideas, and stayed patient.
“That’s true. We did well in that respect, without getting frantic, by maintaining positional discipline and preserving our playing style. We were pushing up effectively with several players; those who came off the bench brought a lot of energy. [Matias] Soule did great, as did others. We’re in a great place right now. We’re confident, we’re playing good football and are trying to keep this up, and our morale is high. We feel like we’ve dropped two points, but this outcome is also good.”
This is Roma’s third draw, following Inter and Como. What is most satisfying to you about these draws?
“They are three different draws, but in all three games we felt we were competitive. We could’ve won against Inter, while against Como we had to play the second half down to ten men. I need more time to reflect on today’s game. However, we must recognise Napoli’s quality: they are a very good team. They’ve won the league title twice. They are a very good, experienced team. If you take on a team like them with this energy and determination, you can take on many other teams too, with the feeling that you can be competitive.”
Leonardo Balerdi scored a brace. He’s got a lot of character.
“I said it at the start of the season about Balerdi and [Marten] De Roon: these two players were leaders in their previous teams, two captains, and they settled in immediately. Over these past few weeks, their contribution has been extraordinary and settling into the team has been very easy for them. I’m very happy that Balerdi scored a brace; he’s a major asset to the team.”
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