Alessandro Florenzi hauled Roma back into the game with a brilliant long-range strike against Verona but could not help the Giallorossi complete the comeback and take all three points back to the capital.

“Had we been a touch more clinical, we could have scored that second goal,” the Italy man rued after the 2015-16 Serie A curtain raiser at the Stadio Bentegodi finished 1-1.

Roma’s Mr Versatile, who operated as a right-back at the Stadio Bentegodi, did however say that the reaction shown by the Giallorossi and the way they finished the game offer good reason for optimism.

Alessandro, how do you see these first 90 minutes?
“We could have won this game if we’d just been a bit more clinical but we gave it everything out there. If we carry on like this, we’re sure to have our say in matters this season.”

There are bound to be lots more matches like this. What do Roma need to take their game up to the next level?
“The sharpness will come. We’ve been doing some very heavy workloads over the summer. Verona defended with six men at the back today, they stuck to their game plan and tried to match the better team and they managed to do that. Now we need to knuckle down because we have a big match coming up next Sunday.”

It’s a different position but the goals keep on coming for you…
“The goal came when we managed to do what we’d practiced in the week, which was to spread play out wide and go for goal, given that it wasn’t easy through the middle. We just needed to be a bit more clinical and we could have scored that second goal.”

There was a great reaction after Jankovic’s opener and you had a lot more shots on goal.
“We responded as any great team should by clawing ourselves level again. We didn’t ease up afterwards either; we kept going, looking for the winner. That’s the mentality we need to have – pressing our opponents high up the pitch and trying to score with the quality we have in the final third.”

You’re already doing a good job at full-back but are there any areas where you can improve?
“We’re doing a lot of work on the defensive phase and with time and match experience playing in this position gets easier. I’m putting my heart and soul into it as I really like playing there. I want to keep on improving and I’ve got the whole team helping me.”

Is it a good thing or a bad thing that you go into the Juventus game after a draw like this?
“I don’t know the answer to that. It’ll be a great game for sure and it’ll be tough but we want to win it and we have what it takes to do that.”

source asroma.it