Roma defender Chris Smalling finds it ‘hard to put into words how disappointed we are all feeling’ after a 3-0 Derby della Capitale defeat to Lazio.
The Giallorossi were dominated from start to finish, with Manuel Lazzari twice catching Roger Ibanez in possession to create early goals for Ciro Immobile and Luis Alberto, then the Spaniard got a third after the restart.
“I think there are crucial moments in the game and we will all study this game and try to understand why, especially after that second goal, heads dropped and we gave them the ascendancy,” Smalling told Roma TV.
“We need to reflect and then focus on the next games, because ultimately we knew if we won this game we would be so close to that first position, and now it’s about making sure there’s a reaction and we push on. Because tonight was not a true reflection of how we have been playing.
“It’s hard to put into words how disappointed we are all feeling tonight. A lot of disappointment. How we have been playing recently, that is not a fair reflection of how we have been doing.
“Mistakes led to two of their goals and after the second goal I think it made the match extremely difficult. But there was still a lot of time to be played. Just pure disappointment tonight. For everyone. For the whole club.”
Roma didn’t have a genuine shot on goal until the 85th minute, when Edin Dzeko tested Pepe Reina from close range.
“In all games there are mistakes, there are things that happen that are beyond your control, but I think we can all agree that there was enough time to get back into the game and turn things around,” added the English defender.
“We have to look at how we can change the mindset, especially after that second goal. But we don’t have too much time to feel sorry for ourselves and be disappointed, because big teams need to react and ultimately we have two important games next week and everyone needs to have a reaction because we can’t let this change how we have been playing and dominating games recently.
“So we need a big reaction next week, with two home games.”