Rudi Garcia insists Roma “have not been that bad” and “couldn’t have done more” in their 6-1 drubbing at Barcelona.

They host Atalanta in Serie A at 14.00 GMT on Sunday, click here for a match preview.

This is their first outing since Tuesday’s 6-1 Champions League humiliation in Barcelona.

Rudi Garcia insists Roma “have not been that bad” and “couldn’t have done more” in their 6-1 drubbing at Barcelona.

They host Atalanta in Serie A at 14.00 GMT on Sunday, click here for a match preview.

This is their first outing since Tuesday’s 6-1 Champions League humiliation in Barcelona.

“I always speak to the team. We all know there was a lot of disappointment, as we could’ve done better, but we must focus all our energy on tomorrow’s game and prove the group is ready to react. There’s nothing else to do,” said the Coach in a Press conference.

“We have to win before looking at what the other results are. We have to make the most of this opportunity, we are angry and need to prove ourselves. Above all we want to continue our strong Serie A campaign.”

Roma have conceded 31 goals in 18 competitive games this season, including the worst tally in the Champions League.

“I talk about the whole team rather than one department. We can do better and proved we can. When every player is motivated and eager to help his teammate, then we can think of not conceding a goal.

“Mind you, I’ve said that I am happy to win 3-2. We can’t have the strongest strike force in Serie A without taking some risks. What we do need to improve is our consistency.

“In football the first goal is always important, as it sets the scene. I think this team has to be in condition to fight back and win. All teams will be more comfortable taking the lead.”

Most questions were not about tomorrow’s rivals Atalanta, but how Garcia would react to the Barcelona drubbing.

“I said after the game we played perhaps the best team in the world right now. There’s no point going back over that match now.

“There were many fans in Barcelona who were just as disappointed as us, but I look forward and tomorrow we’ll be stronger with the fans supporting the side.

“We are still in the running for every tournament and I’ve said for the fifth or sixth time this season that I want the Curva Sud packed again. There’s Atalanta and Torino, then the Champions League.

“Obviously the team was rock bottom after the game in Barcelona, but we are fighters and will get back on track.

“If I look from the start of the season, apart from the first half at BATE Borisov, we didn’t get one full game wrong. We had little chance of co-existing with Barcelona. It’s true we could’ve conceded another three goals, but that’s because Barcelona are extraordinary and right now in their best form.

“We couldn’t be just off the top spot in Serie A and 90 minutes away from progress in the Champions League if we’d been that bad.

“I challenge all of you to find a game before Barcelona where the team was unable to fight back. Obviously we need to be more consistent, but it is totally false to say we were beaten before even starting against Barcelona.

“The only issue we had to focus on in Barcelona ahead of the Borisov match was to avoid injuries and suspensions. The only thing we could’ve done was be more aggressive, but that could mean more bookings and potentially red cards, so what’s the point in that?

“Daniele De Rossi has 100 per cent recovered, I couldn’t risk him in Barcelona, especially with a ban hanging over him. The team has trained well and responded well to my questions on a physical level too.”

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