Champions League: Roma coach Rudi Garcia takes responsibility for loss
Wednesday 22 October 2014 10:09, UK
Roma coach Rudi Garcia has taken full responsibility for his side's humiliating home loss to Bayern Munich.
The Giallorossi were taught a lesson by a slick Bayern outfit that won 7-1 on Tuesday at the Stadio Olimpico.
The defeat was Roma's first in the Champions League this season.
"I am the first one who made the mistake,'' Garcia said to Gazzetta dello Sport. "It is not the fault of the players.
"Our first-half approach was my fault entirely.''
Roma trailed 5-0 at half-time and conceded two more goals after the restart.
"It was the wrong strategy,'' Garcia said. "We should have been more closed up and try to hit them on the counter-attack.
"We suffered a tactical collapse more than a psychological one. We were not aggressive enough and allowed Bayern to play.
"Once we were a goal down after 10 minutes, we went forward and that played into Bayern's hands. We were too eager to get back on track and left spaces that Bayern took advantage of.
"We should have kept our heads and waited for the right chance.''
Roma showed a better image after the restart but the damage had already been done.
"We did have a good reaction after the break but their goalkeeper (Manuel Neuer) prevented us from scoring a few more goals,'' Garcia said.
"We wanted to prove there is pride in this squad and we did that in the second half.
"However, I am disappointed by the two goals we conceded late in the game.''
The outcome in Rome kept Roma still in second place in Group E, five points adrift of leaders Bayern and two points clear of Manchester City after three games played.
City drew 2-2 at CSKA Moscow in the other group game.
Roma travel to Munich to face Bayern on November 5 with Garcia aware his team has a lot of room for improvement.
"We must accept this defeat, which proves we also need more steps to get closer to the best teams in the world,'' Garcia said.
"Now we must lift our heads and the only positive is Manchester City's draw, which allows us to stay second in the group.
"We are still second and can hope for qualification, but certainly not playing like this. I have no doubts we can do better than this and we must prove it on Saturday.''
Roma are second in Serie A and travel to Genoa to face Sampdoria this weekend.
