Gasperini criticises European referees over soft penalties

Bryan Cristante has said Roma must work out where they are going wrong after conceding another second-half comeback, this time in a 2-1 defeat...

Bryan Cristante has said Roma must work to stop making the same mistakes, admitting the squad lacks the habit of managing a game after a comeback defeat at Manchester United in the fourth round of Serie A. Roma were 2-0 up at one stage before losing, and Cristante acknowledged the pattern of late collapses is becoming a concern. Cristante said the team started well and produced a very strong first half that could have ended with more than a 2-0 lead. He accepted that Manchester United are a strong side who become difficult to contain once they find their moment, but added that Roma needed to do more, especially as they had already been through the same situation. He also said the penalty award looked very doubtful to him, while stressing that the club must review the match closely and understand where they go wrong, because the comebacks are starting to pile up. Asked whether the team lacks the habit of managing a game, Cristante said that may be the case and that everyone behind the ball must be more focused. "Even today we were 2-0 up, sometimes you can drop back but without conceding too much," he said. On whether the defeat could be part of a growth process, he said: "We must take the positive things. We played a very good first half against a strong team in a stadium like that, even though they are not at their best moment. We must learn, we know this is a point where we must improve. We will work on it and try to understand where we are making mistakes." Asked whether the United pressure in the second half had surprised Roma, Cristante said: "Maybe we also dropped back a little, thinking we could hold the result. It is a combination of factors. In the second half we managed to keep the ball very little, we did not shoot much and we could not breathe with the ball."

Bryan Cristante has admitted Roma must work out where they are going wrong after losing to Manchester United, a match in which the team let a lead slip in the second half. Speaking to SkySport at the final whistle, the midfielder said the defeat had come despite a strong start from Roma. Roma started well and produced a very strong first half that could have ended with more than a 2-0 lead. Cristante said the team had to do more after they had already experienced the same problem, adding that Manchester United are strong opponents who become hard to contain once they push forward and find their moment. The Roma midfielder also addressed the penalty awarded to United. He said he had not seen the incident again, but that from the pitch it looked very doubtful. Cristante added that the team must review the footage properly and understand where they are going wrong, as the problem is becoming too frequent. Asked whether Roma lack the ability to manage games, Cristante said: "It could be. We must certainly be more focused at the back, the whole team. We were 2-0 up, and sometimes you can drop back and keep the game under control, letting the others play, but without conceding goals. We must review it and understand where we went wrong." On the defeat in relation to the team's growth, he said: "We played a very good first half, against a strong side even though they are not at their best, and in a stadium like this. We must also take the good things, but we know this is one point and we have to improve. We will do it, we must understand where we are going wrong so as not to make these mistakes again." Asked whether United's pressure in the second half had surprised Roma, Cristante said: "Maybe we dropped back a little too, thinking we could hold the result. It is certainly a combination of factors. We struggled to keep the ball in the second half. We could not breathe with the ball in their half, and that allowed them to push up a lot. We must review it."

Roma threw away a commanding first-half lead at Old Trafford, collapsing after the interval to lose 3-2 to Manchester United and making their Champions League path considerably harder. Roma had looked superb in the first half, with Mora's inspiration producing a double burst of goals in 16 minutes: Soulé opened the scoring at 11', then Malen converted a penalty won by Soulé at 17'. It was the first time any side had scored at Old Trafford in such a short spell in European competition. Malen's penalty was his fourth goal in the Champions League. The 2-0 lead, built on dominant marking and strong midfield duels with Cristante and De Roon, should have seen Roma close out the tie. Instead, Bruno Fernandes levelled from a penalty early in the second half, after a retake was ordered because Cristante had entered the box before the whistle. Vasquez saved the original spot-kick, but the Portuguese forward scored from the repeat. Carrick's side then pushed forward, and Cunha scored twice in three minutes, at 83' and 86', to complete the turnaround. Mbeumo had also hit both posts with a single shot in the spell that followed Bruno Fernandes's goal. Gasperini had made changes that were meant to strengthen the side. He brought on Mora and sent in Pisilli, and the match then shifted. Baleba suffered a serious muscular injury for United, and Tielemans came on to change the game. Malen, exhausted, was replaced by Castro, and Balerdi's error gave Cunha the chance for the equaliser. The Roma coach had already chosen Vasquez over Gollini in goal, a surprise decision that was only partly rewarded. The result is the third comeback Roma have conceded in the Champions League, following two defeats and a draw. The article notes that Roma have been unable to cope with physical intensity and lacked enough quality on the bench given the absences. Roma remain a side still learning in Europe, and Gasperini needs time, patience and stronger players to move forward.

Bryan Cristante has said Roma must review and understand where they need to improve after their 3-2 defeat at Manchester United. Speaking in the mixed zone, the Giallorossi midfielder called the loss a disappointment. Cristante said: "We need to review and understand where we must improve." He also addressed the penalty that helped Manchester United, saying: "The penalty has recharged them, but the contact was light. The defeat is a shame."

Roma led Manchester United at Old Trafford through goals from Soulé and Malen, but collapsed in the second half and lost the match. Soulé gave Roma the lead around the tenth minute with a left-footed strike, and Malen doubled it from the spot before the break. United then won a penalty in the second half. Vásquez saved the initial spot-kick, but the referee ordered a retake because Cristante had his knee on the line when he cleared the rebound. Bruno Fernandes stepped up again and scored, and Roma's concentration went with it. Balerdi's slip allowed the equaliser, and another error led to United's third goal. Roma had dominated the first half, with Soulé and Malen putting them 2-0 up. The second half turned on the disputed penalty. Roma appeared to tire after that, and a thin bench did not help. Gasperini's side had been pushed back, and the closing stages followed a familiar pattern for the club in recent weeks. The ratings were: Vásquez 6, Mancini 5.5, Balerdi 4.5, Hermoso 6, Cristante 6, De Roon 5.5, Wesley 5.5, Mora 6.5, Soulé 6.5, Malen 6 and Gasperini 5.5. Ghilardi, who came on for Mancini in the 74th minute, was rated 5.5, and N'Dicka, on for Hermoso in the 75th, was rated 5.5. Lulli, on for Rensch after 22 minutes, was rated 5.5. Rensch was not rated after playing barely twenty minutes. Pisilli, on from the 45th minute, was rated 5, while Castro, who came on for Malen in the 77th minute, was rated 5.5. Vásquez saved the first penalty but could do nothing about the retake. Mancini was booked for the penalty concession and was reportedly unhappy with the decision. Mora's pass for Soulé and his contribution to the penalty earned him the highest rating of the night, despite a couple of light touches. Balerdi was the most heavily criticised. His rating reflected a double-edged performance: some anticipations raised the pressure, but he steered well for long periods before the late errors. Cristante was praised for his control in the first half and was described as losing some sharpness after the break. The match report ends with the group stage in mind, though the source does not state a next fixture. Roma's bench and fatigue remain the central talking points.