Roma Primavera returns from Manchester with a point and a bit more confidence. After the 1-1 draw , Giallorossi coach Mattia Scala analyzed his team's performance to the club's official microphones. Here are his words.
A good point, an excellent second half, a slightly less so first. How should we describe this match?
We started very well, we had a chance to score right away. The team was very organized and compact at the start. Then we started to struggle a bit too much with their ball possession; they carried us around the pitch, and we dropped off. That's when they scored, even though they didn't create any great chances. In the second half, we adjusted the tactical situation, we intervened with the players, asking them to be a bit brave. It was right to come here and impose our game. The result depends on many factors, not all of which are controllable, but we needed courage. We started with three forwards for that reason too."
Scala: "Manchester United are a more ready team than us."
How did the opponent compare to what we expected?
"Manchester United are a more ready team than us. Compared to the matches we'd watched, they've included several players born in 2007 who are already playing for their Under-21 team; there were players who had already made their Premier League debuts. We came here with a lot of players born in 2009, so there was a gap in experience, more than in technique. But they proved to be a very good team."
Yesterday, after training, Arduini and Romero Corredera were called up to the first team for another training session. Has this changed anything in the management?
"When these things happen, we're just happy. We're completely available to the first team's needs. The boys know this, and we as a staff adapt to their requests, and for us, nothing has changed in our preparations."
Two important results against Inter and Manchester United. How does the team fare?
We're going through a very positive period. I saw a lot of guys tired, but ready to give it their all. They never give up, they're always on the ball. Today they tried to win until the end, and some of them were disappointed not to win. This is a great sign of maturity and growth. Now let's keep going; on Sunday we'll have the last match of this mini-cycle, and then we'll recharge our batteries to get going again. But we'll start from a great foundation.
