As ROMA, Zeman: "The entire defence was at fault for the goals"

© foto di Giuseppe Celeste/Image Sport

As Roma coach Zeman's thoughts following the Bologna game:
"We played quite well in the first half but perhaps we just settled a bit too much. We weren't more aggressive and we didn't create the chances we should have done and that allowed Bologna lots of space to break into.
"The entire defence was at fault for the goals, we sat too deep. On their first goal the player crossed it and we just stood and watched, while the third came following a collision between Burdisso and Stekelenburg. On their second we were static on the edge of the 18-yard box and didn't attack the ball and our opponents took advantage of that very well. We weren't positive enough in midfield in the second half either and we didn't push enough.
"Was the defeat down to players missing this week on international duty? No, we've been working together for more than two months now and it would be unfair to blame the scoreline on players missing for 8-9 days. We must accept the result and in future should have greater belief in doing what we're already partly capable of, something we showed on several occasions today and in the game against Inter.
"Why did I take off Piris? I substituted him because he'd run a lot in the first while in the second half he was no longer doing the same job and we needed to attack on the right too. So I sent on Marquinhos because he's got a good engine and can drive forward with the ball at his feet. Is the defeat a tough blow for the squad? I was happy at the end of the first half, although we'd allowed Bologna a few dangerous counter-attacks because we all wanted to score the third. We need to learn to focus throughout and fight for every high ball because if we don't have the belief, our opponents begin to."