Rudi Garcia praised Roma’s calm heads to overturn Udinese and warned the derby with Lazio “is a Champions League play-off.”
The Giallorossi dominated possession, but had to fight back from 1-0 down to beat Udinese 2-1 and retain second place.
“I thought the final result was more like 5-2, as we hit the woodwork twice and found a goalkeeper of great quality blocking our path,” the Coach told Sky Sport Italia.
Rudi Garcia praised Roma’s calm heads to overturn Udinese and warned the derby with Lazio “is a Champions League play-off.”
The Giallorossi dominated possession, but had to fight back from 1-0 down to beat Udinese 2-1 and retain second place.
“I thought the final result was more like 5-2, as we hit the woodwork twice and found a goalkeeper of great quality blocking our path,” the Coach told Sky Sport Italia.
“The game was one-way traffic and we took the risks we needed to in a match like this, pressing them all over the field for the whole time.
“We gifted a goal, something we’ve done a few too many times this season. I hope we can stop giving goals away in future. The important thing is we were a goal down and not only equalised, but won.
“It’s normal that when you have to win and attack throughout, with 36 crosses and 19 shots on goal, you take risks. We do need to be better tracking back to cover on the counter.”
Next Sunday there is the Derby della Capitale with arch rivals Lazio, who are only one point behind Roma in third place.
“I told the lads the derby will be basically a Champions League play-off,” continued Garcia.
“It gives us two results out of three, but we are not built to sit back and wait for a draw. It’s a derby and derbies have to be won.”
The squad held a ‘mini’ training retreat over the last week, staying at the training ground every other night, after their shock defeat to Milan.
“I think that reflecting on issues and doing something that I hope is intelligent will be better for a team than to react in the heat of the moment.
“The team showed tonight when a goal down that with calm, confidence and also consistent tempo they were able to turn it around.”
Garcia was asked about some of his young forwards, including Juan Manuel Iturbe and Victor Ibarbo.
“Iturbe is still very young and this is an important advantage both for him and us. The good thing about Manuel is that he gives everything, but in doing so he also ends up losing sharpness and needs to keep a cool head.
“Victor can play in any of the three forward positions. He is quick, has two good feet, is strong in the air, but he doesn’t believe in his mind that he can play as a centre-forward. He had a great game tonight and perhaps just needs a goal for his confidence.”