Mourinho: “The play-offs are no disaster”

It was an intense match with both sides having a decent go at each other. You must be disappointed with those three chances you missed...

“They were important chances but what happened at the start of the second half was important too – and it's something that keeps happening. It's a shame we didn't have a camera in the dressing room at half time because I always hammer it into them. I warn them about going out for the second half against a team losing 1-0 at home, playing towards the end with all their fans...

“Of course your opponents are going to come back out with the bit between their teeth. We took that moment of the game too lightly. There are players who wasted another opportunity.”

Houssem Aouar?

“No, I'm not talking about Aouar but players in general. There are players who came off the bench too. When players come off the bench in Serie A they always have the right attitude, good focus, but in these European games, especially away from home, it seems the people who start on the bench and who aren't used to starting on the bench, when they come on, they do so with the wrong attitude. That doesn't help the team.

“I don't think being in the play-offs is a disaster. Obviously it's going to be difficult but it's also motivating to be playing against a big team dropping down from the Champions League. We'll have another big European night at a packed-out Olimpico and our fans will be really up for it. I'm not going to make a drama out of this second place. I think it's more of a drama that some people wasted an opportunity by playing with the same attitude we keep seeing, especially at the start of the second half when we're in the lead.”

You said something important there: the team's mental growth is being stunted by that sort of attitude.

“I really don't understand. I've played 150 matches in the Champions League that are much more 'important' than this and my motivation for these matches is sky-high. It seems that some people who don't have much European experience play these games somewhat superficially.

“It's always the same lads who stay focused for 90 minutes and I don't need to name them. Then there are people who have a bit of a superficial approach in this type of game.”

You were forced to put Bryan Cristante in defence. Does taking him out of midfield upset the team's balance a bit?

“Of course it does. But unfortunately we only have one Cristante. If we had three or four, they'd all play. There's only one and he's a fantastic example for the others. A real role model. He plays with his concentration cranked up to the max and takes nothing lightly.

“In front of him, [Leo] Paredes had another great game, coordinating our play when we had the ball. He's a World Cup winner and he doesn't take these games lightly either. Then there are people who feel comfortable being superficial and you see that in the results.”

Are they going to pay for it?

“There's nothing to pay. [Pep] Guardiola can make people pay for these things. If he's not happy with someone, he says goodbye and brings in another. It's not a problem. We don't have that option here. Here we have a coach who has to keep hammering it in, working day after day trying to get the best out of these players.

“I'll say it again: we have a fantastic squad, good people, professional people who love Roma and want to do well. This is more about the DNA, about your comfort zone. We normally manage to instil the right mentality at home but away from home it's a bit more difficult. Having said that, we still could have won today, even with these things I'm not happy with.”

How important are those players you mentioned that are a positive example for others who aren't able to find the right focus? Besides what you convey to them yourself on a mental level . [The question is from Giuseppe Bergomi]

“Bergomi knows what he's talking about. He knows how important those players are. He was one of them himself. We have this type of player, whom I call superficial, not very responsible in that they say, 'Hey boss, I'm here. I want to play. I want to play more. I want to play all the time.'

“They have less say now. If one of them comes to my office and tells me he wants to play more, I say, 'What do you mean you want to play more? You'll play more when the others are dead.' Because the people who stand up and are counted are always the same ones.”