The words of the AS Roma coach: “We had done 7 correct games, concentrated, but tonight everything went wrong as if we had forgotten the 40 days of work.”

Ivan Juric spoke into the microphones of Dazn after the heavy defeat against Fiorentina. These were his words:

What’s happening? “Tonight, what happened is that we did everything wrong.” “We had played 7 accurate matches, focused, tonight everything went wrong, as if we had forgotten 40 days of work. I didn’t expect this, we had come from good performances and solidity.” Why the double change after half an hour? “It hit me hard. We played a wonderful match three days ago against Dinamo, but I saw very little concentration and attentiveness, really negative elements, particularly in defensive phase, an attitude that I did not appreciate. Chosen to provide a jolt, to send a signal, but it was also a technical matter. Not just the two of them, but the entire team in general. “In seven games, we’ve conceded 5 goals, always with possession. We were trying to improve in the attacking phase but tonight we got everything wrong – the whole team. There are few excuses, little to say at this moment.” “Do you see the right defensive characteristics for your type of football?” “If a team concedes 5 goals in 7 games, they face very few shots, it means they’re doing great. We’ve conceded silly goals in a way; if the team always performs well in 7 games with these characteristics, they were not up to par today, they were not focused. “Captaining these matches, it happened even to Atalanta, it happened to us today. In a certain sense, it’s better that everything happened today – we will recover and improve.” Does he feel under scrutiny? “You know how it is with football, in 40 days we did an outstanding job and today we’ve tossed it all down the drain. The game, the solidity, the young players doing well, the veterans returning to their form. “But these are matters of football, decisions are made by others, we just work. In 40 days, we have done so many good things, I did not expect this today.” Is Cristante’s Replacement Sending A Message? “This is not a large group of players, everyone must contribute, both veterans and newcomers. I do not need to send signals in that sense. I observe the performances, I choose those who train and play well. I had chosen Cristante because he provided balance and stability, today he had a bad game. “Now, Roma cannot afford to lose any players, old or new, but must retain everyone.”

JURIC IN PRESS CONFERENCE

What did you do wrong? “Everything. Truly everything. There’s little to explain, this team had shown great solidity in the seven matches, letting in few goals and shots, demonstrating convincing organization. But tonight, nothing worked. “Rarely in my life have I experienced evenings of this sort.”

“Why two changes after half an hour? there is not much to say.” “If I could have done more, I would have. There are players I hold in high regard whom I’ve seen appear disoriented.” I chose two players, I could have picked others. Conceding goals happens, but even at 0-0 it would have been the same: such gaps, I had never seen in these past forty days. “Things Not Done Well”

Has he spoken with the company? Does he feel they are supportive? “We have discussed it all together. The team carries a massive burden of frustration from the past, and emotionally, they have completely broken down: this is the ultimate feeling of things. It’s incredible that just a few days ago, these same guys deservedly stood their ground against Inter, and today, they collapse like this. “We truly gifted certain goals. It might have been a built-up frustration, which ultimately led to emotional breakdown.” More disappointed by the men or the players? “If something was lacking in the seven matches prior to this, it was a greater ferocity and ruthlessness in certain situations. There were outstanding performances, full of dominance, yet some goals were given away. Tonight, frankly, everything was missing. Both the defensive and offensive phase. You have not provided a specific text to translate. Please provide the text you’d like me to translate. Everything. There is nothing to say that we did well or that luck was against us. “And for me, it’s utterly strange, an evening like this, following the first seven games. It may just be an off day; let’s bounce back: Roma must do it.” Have You Ever Thought About Resigning? Do You Feel Comfortable? “I’ve never thought about it, absolutely not. One evening does not change forty days. I have witnessed games strikingly dissimilar from this one and much superior, in line with my belief that it can still be scaled up a notch higher. I had never harbored any negative feelings before, tonight it’s a complete debacle. “I firmly believe that the team is with me, or they wouldn’t have had a winning streak like this, growing so much. The ones who are most disappointed are the players themselves.” “Is it right to apologize after such a game?” “Absolutely, we do this job for the fans and when things go wrong, we’re all disappointed. After such a game, there’s definitely reflection needed. The concept is not about apologizing: everyone is working at their best, tonight things have really gone awry. And I feel terribly sorry for the players, their frustration is immense: if they feel the need to apologize, they should do it”.