Gian Piero Gasperini hit out at Jose Mourinho, insisting Real Madrid ‘were outclassed’ by Roma until those three goals from corners. ‘We were far too passive, there is huge regret.’
It was a dramatic night at the Stadio Olimpico, where the Giallorossi showed the very best and very worst of themselves.
Check the Football Italia Player Ratings for Roma 3-4 Real Madrid
They surged into a fully deserved 3-1 lead with a Marten de Roon strike and Donyell Malen brace, but some shocking defending on corners saw them concede three in a row from the 83rd minute to the 90th.
Carlos Espi, Endrick and former Roma defender Antonio Rudiger were all on target from almost identical goals, giving Real Madrid a 4-3 victory.
Gasperini regret at Roma errors
“They had taken corners in the first half too, but in the final minutes it was as if we were paralysed with fear on those corners, they scored too easily,” Gasperini told Sky Sport Italia and Amazon Prime Video Italia.
“There is huge regret, because a game played like that should not have ended with that epilogue.”
Real Madrid had just one shot on target in the entire first half and it was the Kylian Mbappé goal, whereas Thibaut Courtois was forced into several saves.
“We have to build on the positives, so even if this defeat weighs heavily, we need to shake it off quickly, otherwise we risk cancelling out all the good things we saw in this match,” insisted the coach.
“It is so hard to accept, but Roma certainly did some very good things, which we ruined at the end. Quite beyond Real Madrid’s capabilities on set plays, we were far too passive, and that is a pity.”
Jose Mourinho said to the media after the final whistle that Roma were ‘dead’ in the closing stages, but Gasperini took offence.
“If there was a team that looked like it had run out of steam, it was Real Madrid. We outclassed them in everything, they scored only on corners, but other than that we were certainly up to the task.
“It’s true we have to learn how to see games through to the end, those final minutes were decisive. We’ve got to build on our style of play and work on the negatives.”
The night had more problems for Gasperini, because Manu Koné went off in tears after just 17 minutes with a fresh injury, then Paulo Dybala had to be replaced at half-time with a muscular issue.
They were already missing Mile Svilar with a fractured toe and Bryan Cristante thanks to that knee injury.
“Koné is certainly a muscular problem, Dybala felt the soleus muscle harden, so we have to wait and see. The Koné injury is certainly worse, that is a strain. You run the risk of injuries when playing at this level, but we had recovered well,” confirmed Gasperini.
Roma now have one point from two Champions League games, as they held Fenerbahce to a 1-1 draw in Turkiye.