Gianluca Mancini could not be entirely content with Roma’s Europa League play-off victory against FC Porto and reveals what he told striker Samu.
The first leg had ended 1-1, so it was all to be decided on the night at the Stadio Olimpico and Samu had put Porto ahead with an acrobatic bicycle kick.
However, Paulo Dybala’s two strikes in four minutes turned it around, with Stephen Eustaquio’s red card for a reaction foul on Leandro Paredes reducing Porto to 10 men.
Niccolò Pisilli made the tie safe, especially required when Devyne Rensch scored an own goal in stoppages for 4-3 on aggregate.
“We had a good performance, but cannot suffer like that when it’s 11 against 10,” Mancini told Sky Sport Italia.
“We need to be grittier, as we relaxed too much when going 3-1 up. The important thing was to get the victory and we proved over two legs that we are superior to Porto.”
On both situations, as well as in the first leg, Roma conceded goals with very obvious defensive errors and Mancini feels they need to step up a level.
“Games are never over at this level until the final whistle. We have to be more compact and avoid their counter-attacks. More than errors, I saw situations being misread.”
It was quite a physical battle between Mancini and Samu, but ultimately a fair one.
“It was a great duel, this is what football is about, it’s a battle. I complimented him, he really is a great centre-forward.”
Roma now go into the Europa League Round of 16, where they will face either Lazio or Athletic Club, learning their opponent in tomorrow’s draw.
