Rudi Garcia said even with a penalty appeal, Roma “should’ve done better against an ultra-defensive Milan.”
The Giallorossi end 2014 with a three-point gap separating them from Serie A leaders Juventus, as they drew their last two home fixtures against Sassuolo and Milan.
This was the first time Roma failed to find the net at the Olimpico this season.
Rudi Garcia said even with a penalty appeal, Roma “should’ve done better against an ultra-defensive Milan.”
The Giallorossi end 2014 with a three-point gap separating them from Serie A leaders Juventus, as they drew their last two home fixtures against Sassuolo and Milan.
This was the first time Roma failed to find the net at the Olimpico this season.
“I do consider this a step back and two dropped points, but even if we had the chances to score, perhaps we didn’t have enough opportunities and were lacking creativity without Miralem Pjanic,” Garcia told Sky Sport Italia.
“We must also say there was a clear handling offence on our corner. Even then, we should’ve done better against an ultra-defensive Milan tonight.”
Nigel de Jong jumped with his arm in the air and appeared to deflect Gervinho’s header in the box.
“I’ve been saying for a long time that either the goal-line referees take responsibility and make decisions or they may as well not be there.”
Garcia defended his decision to start Alessandro Florenzi in the trident attack rather than Adem Ljajic.
“When I make a choice, I stick with it and am 100 per cent sure of it. Gervinho works with many quick bursts of pace, so it’s only normal he needs to recover during the game. He did well, but Diego Lopez performed three or four great saves.
“Milan defended well with tight lines, allowed us little room to play in with these five midfielders and we lacked creativity to find the breakthrough. We should also have moved round De Jong more, as we had planned that in training.”
Garcia is preparing for 2015 and grateful that Serie A has a lengthy winter break.
“I think all the teams welcome this Christmas break. Players are not machines who can play 10 months in a row without a week off to rest mentally as well as physically. I hope Italy keeps the Christmas break, as it’ll be interesting to see how the English teams do in the second half of the season. I’d like to track if there are more injuries in their sides than in Serie A or Ligue 1.
“We are still in the running for three trophies and will aim to win them all. That’s why I told my players to rest up and return with the same iron will that allowed us to do so well for the past five months.”