Thursday 10 April, 2008

Roma’s Mauro Esposito admits that the Giallorossi will be haunted by what might been after their Champions League exit to Manchester United.

Serie A’s second-placed side had a mountain to climb if they were to qualify for the semi-finals after losing 2-0 at the Stadio Olimpico.

However, had Daniele De Rossi converted a first-half penalty, rather than blasting over the bar, things could have been different.

“We tried to play our game but we obviously knew that it was going to be tough,” Esposito said.

“We believed we could do it and after a nervous opening 15 minutes we did push them back.

“Of course De Rossi was disappointed at missing the penalty. Had he scored, the whole match would have changed, but these things happen.

“I think it was a hard-fought game against a very physical side. We needed at least two goals and we weren’t able to manage it.”

The capital club must now pick themselves up in time for this weekend’s tough trip to Udinese’s Stadio Friuli.