Diego Perotti has “no answers or alibis for that second half performance. It was all our fault” after Roma fell 2-1 to Shakhtar Donetsk.
The Giallorossi had the lead at half-time through Cengiz Under, but came out for the second half sluggish and were overturned by Facundo Ferreyra and Fred goals.
The second leg of the Champions League Round of 16 tie is at the Olimpico on March 13.
Diego Perotti has “no answers or alibis for that second half performance. It was all our fault” after Roma fell 2-1 to Shakhtar Donetsk.
The Giallorossi had the lead at half-time through Cengiz Under, but came out for the second half sluggish and were overturned by Facundo Ferreyra and Fred goals.
The second leg of the Champions League Round of 16 tie is at the Olimpico on March 13.
“We have to play better, see what we did wrong in the second half and remember that if we win 1-0 in the second leg, we go through,” Perotti told Mediaset Premium.
“I’ll be honest, I am asking myself what happened in the second half too. It was a game we needed to win considering that first half performance.
“It’s really disappointing for that horrible second half and it’s all our fault. I am not seeking alibis, it was our responsibility and we got it wrong.
“Now we have two tough matches against Milan and Napoli coming up. We’re still alive in this tie, as the third goal cleared off the line at the end might’ve killed us off.
“It really annoys me, because we scored an away goal and were playing well. I don’t know if the equaliser knocked the wind out of us, or if we were already flagging, I have no answers.
“Maybe we lack a bit of experience, but all we can do is work hard and shut up. I won’t go to the referees and I won’t whinge. We’ll see what happens in the second leg.”
The referee was involved in the final minutes, when Taison elbowed Perotti in the face, but both of them were booked for the altercation that followed.
“I don’t want to dwell on that. The referee saw it, thought it was a yellow card and there’s nothing I can do about it now.”