Roma are out of the Champions League. The sentence of the Olimpico was without appeal, which decreed the elimination of the Giallorossi from main Europe by virtue of Manchester City, capable of winning 2-0 thanks to goals from Nasri and Zabaleta. Painful and severe verdict but perhaps, in the light of what we saw on the pitch, right: if it is true that with a little more luck the result could have been different, it is equally true that Garcia's team still proved too much immature for a stage like the Champions League. Now it will be the Europa League, a competition which, once the disappointment has been resolved, will be honored in the best possible way because it is much more within the reach of the bigger "cousin".
“It was a final, we knew City were strong even with some absences – Garcia's analysis immediately after the match. – We needed a little luck, but instead the ball went in for them and out for us. But there's no point in having regrets, even if he won in Moscow things wouldn't have changed much. Now we need to have a great championship and be ready for Sunday."
The French coach's attempt to move on immediately was a legitimate attempt, but the feeling is that this beating could leave some aftermath, at least in the immediate future. The yellow and red Roma believed in it because after all, even a goalless draw could have been enough to eliminate the English. And that's exactly how the game was going, with the hosts managing a 0-0 draw after they missed several chances in the first half.
The start had been excellent: Roma immediately attacked with rapid and precise phrasing, the English on the ropes saved only by favorable rebounds. However, it was a "false" start, in the sense that Pellegrini's men soon took measures, even making themselves rather dangerous. Twice Milner made De Sanctis' goal tremble while the Giallorossi only saw Gervinho, whose diagonal grazed the post.
The 0-0 draw in the interval, thanks to Bayern's advantage over CSKA Moscow (it will end up 3-0 for the Germans), led straight to the round of 60 but at the Olimpico no one had the courage to say it too loud. Yes, because the feeling that City could find the goal had been hovering for some time and became a reality in the XNUMXth minute, when Nasri, left guiltily too much alone, slipped the ball into the inside post and then into the net.
The 0-1 radically changed the scenarios: now, to pass the round, only victory was needed. In short, a feat that Roma, unfortunately, only touched. Manolas' post (71') and Demichelis' save on the line (72') could have changed history, or at least given us a heart-pounding finish, instead it was the English who found the goal with Zabaleta, who blocked the result and qualification ( 85').
“They have more experience than us – Garcia comments. – We have to learn and improve a lot if we want to catch up with the biggest in Europe”. Now we need to turn the page and quickly too. The Giallorossi will visit Genoa on Sunday for a match that promises to be rather complicated. But Roma have no choice: if they want to undermine Juve they have to win, otherwise the Scudetto could remain just a dream. And this, after Garcia's proclamations (and controversies), would be a complete failure.
