Following the 3-2 Champions League defeat to Manchester United , Roma midfielder Bryan Cristante spoke to Sky Sport . Here are his words.
Cristante on Sky Sport
We're all a bit torn between the beauty you showed us and this comeback, which is becoming a recurring theme after Real Madrid. Can you pinpoint the key to these different moments?
“We came in well, we played a great first half, we should have even finished 2-0 up. Then, of course, there are the opponents too, they're strong, and when they push forward, they also increase the volume, making it difficult to contain them. We definitely should have done something more, especially because we'd already been through it. I haven't seen that penalty yet; from the pitch, it seemed very, very generous, very dubious. Clearly, when they also push forward, they're strong, they're strong players, so it becomes difficult to contain them. But we definitely need to take a good look at it and understand where we're going wrong, because they're becoming a bit too frequent.”
Could it be that you're so used to thinking vertically that you're missing a moment to breathe and manage the game? Is this a habit you don't have?
"Yes, it could be, it could be. But we definitely need to be a little more focused at the back, the whole team, because after all, we were 2-0 up again today. Every now and then you can drop back a bit, you can hold the game, you can let the others play a bit, but without conceding any goals. Clearly, we'll have to review it and figure out where we're going wrong."
The coach said this defeat could be more important than any other on your journey. If Soulé scores in the first half, you could even go 3-0 up. What do you think of this defeat in terms of the team's growth?
"Yes, we definitely have to take the positives. We played a great first half in a stadium like this, against a strong team, which clearly wasn't in its best form, but still a team with strong players, a great squad, and a strong bench. We have to learn, in short. We can't just take the positives from this start to the season. We know this is an area where we need to improve, and clearly we'll work on it and improve. Let's try to understand where we went wrong so we don't make the same mistake again."
Were you surprised by United's pressure in the second half? Did you think they could do something like that? Were you unprepared?
"Yes, maybe we even dropped back a bit, thinking we could hold on to the result. It's a combination of factors, for sure. As I said before, we need to reassess it; I haven't seen where we went wrong yet. We barely managed to keep the ball in the second half, you know, under their pressure. Then we didn't shoot much, we couldn't breathe with the ball in their half, and surely that, in the long run, allowed them to attack a lot."
Cristante in press conference
Bryan, once again a game dominated in the first half, then Roma faded in the second. What's going on?
"No, it's not that they're shutting down, the opponents are coming out too. Clearly, we have to do better; we dropped back a bit too much, maybe we left them with too much initiative. Then, after the goal, after the penalty, basically, they got fired up, the stadium a bit, they have strong players. But we definitely have to do better, manage the situation better in the second half."
It's no longer an episodic issue. The coach has sometimes described the goals at the start of the second half as being the result of pure chance, but now it's becoming something that happens all too often.
"Yes, yes, of course, we need to see where we're going wrong. We definitely made mistakes, we'll see, and we have some things we can improve on."
How much do we miss players like Pellegrini and Dybala managing matches like this, in stadiums like this?
"Clearly, the more players you have, the bigger squad you have, the more rotation you can get, and the more fresh substitutions make the difference, right? After all, when you play so many games back-to-back, the five substitutions definitely help you manage. Even then, in difficult moments, like the second half, having fresh players coming on and holding the ball is a huge plus."
Is there anything to gain in mentality, in your opinion?
"We definitely have to do something better, in short. It's not the first time this has happened in this championship, and we have to improve. We can't just focus on the good things from the start of the season; this is something we have to improve on, and we will improve."
Aren't there any fears that these matches, first Madrid and now Manchester, where Roma seemed on the verge of a dream and then fell, could ultimately weigh on the Champions League points tally?
"We definitely need to get the points, wins, and draws to move up the table. But we still have a few games to go, and we know that, well, if we win, we still have a chance of qualifying. Clearly, it would have been better to go home with some points, but ultimately, there's still room to qualify."
You don't need excuses, but you mentioned the penalty? Fans on social media aren't happy with the referee's handling; there was also a handball in midfield and a United counterattack. Do these dubious incidents stick with you, despite a subpar second half?
"Yes, I haven't seen it again, but from the pitch the contact certainly seemed very, very light. Considering it's a European competition, where contact is called much less often, it seems very light to me. I'll see it again. Then they definitely recharged after the goal and started strong, so that certainly helped recharge the atmosphere as well."
This stadium remains a nightmare for Roma.
"Yes, yes, it's a shame, because we had a really great first half today, we could have won. But, as I said before, we need to review it and understand where we need to improve."
If every time you come back on the pitch, it feels like you've had ten camomile teas and slept, it's obvious that the other teams will take over. You no longer win tackles, you no longer press, you no longer make two passes in a row, and then you come out saying you still haven't figured out where you're going wrong?????!!!! You're a team that never learns from its mistakes!!!!
You were doing it with Udinese too… You always resurrect…
The dead!!!! You seem like a stupid team with no real sportsmanship… But that's an old flaw!!!!