Roma captain Lorenzo Pellegrini admits the Giallorossi performance against Fiorentina was ‘unacceptable’ and insists the team has always given ‘their all’ under Ivan Juric.
Roma suffered a 5-1 loss to Fiorentina on Sunday night, leaving coach Ivan Juric on the brink of sacking.
Pellegrini spoke to reporters at the Stadio Franchi last night.
“There is no way to overcome this except through hard work,” the Italy international told DAZN.
“At the same time, we must act as men and admit that this sort of performance is unacceptable. It’s a challenging moment.
“Analysing the mental aspect and the game are two separate things. If I think about the game, I see nothing positive. We must only work hard,” he continued.
“We are here for Roma’s good. You know what it means to me, and there isn’t a day I don’t give my all. Days like this are twice as difficult for me.”
Bryan Cristante and Angelino were subbed off in the first half and didn’t even return to the bench after the break.
“I didn’t even realise it. I was on the pitch,” Pellegrini claimed.
Pellegrini: ‘Unacceptable’ Roma performance, De Rossi and Juric ‘different’
“I took the team with me to make them understand that we could change what had happened in the first half, but the second half was even worse. There isn’t much to analyse; we must look at ourselves in the eyes and be men before footballers.
“What I told the team is that performances like these are unacceptable,” the Italian midfielder added at a post-match press conference, as quoted by TMW.
Are the players supporting Juric?
“There hasn’t been a single moment since Juric arrived when the team hasn’t given their all,” insisted Pellegrini.
“Naturally, it takes time to achieve determined results. What happened is unacceptable and you know I suffer twice, as a footballer and as a Romanista. I want to watch the game again, but the feeling is that there is nothing to save.”
Pellegrini faced another question on Juric and whether Roma lack something in terms of organisation.
“De Rossi and Juric have different philosophies. Evidently, we all need to improve, starting with myself,” said the midfielder.
“When I say unacceptable performance, I talk about everyone, nobody excluded. We must admit that we all sucked. I am not somebody who hides behind a finger.”
Roma’s next Serie A game is against Torino, Juric’s ex-club, on Thursday. However, it remains to be seen if the Croatian tactician will still be in charge in three days as several sources in Italy claim the club could recall De Rossi.
The former midfielder was sacked last month.
