Roma manager Ivan Juric was interviewed following his team’s Europa League match against Elfsborg, a game that ended in disappointment for the Giallorossi. The performance, especially in the first half, appeared disjointed, and the new players seemed to struggle with cohesion. In response to Sky Sport Italia’s inquiry about whether he may have taken too much of a risk with his team selection, Juric firmly disagreed.
He started by defending his team’s performance, stating, “I don’t agree with your assessment of the game. I thought we did lots of good things. We moved the ball around well.” Juric acknowledged that Roma needed to improve their defensive capabilities, particularly in dealing with counter-attacks. However, he maintained that his view of the game was positive overall, despite the negative result. “Obviously we need to improve when it comes to defending counter-attacks because we conceded a goal and a penalty, but I must have been watching a different game to you,” he said, clearly standing by his tactical choices.
Juric felt that the team created numerous chances and had ample opportunities to score but was simply unlucky in not converting them. “I saw lots of chances and lots of good play. Sometimes matches turn out like this. We had loads of shots and didn’t manage to score. We have to accept that.” Despite the loss, he was reluctant to label the performance as confused or misguided.
When it came to Roma’s inability to regain control quickly after losing possession, Juric did not shy away from addressing the issue but maintained that it was part of the ongoing evolution of his team. “I noticed the positioning problem because even in numbers-up situations we’re not aggressive enough,” he remarked, admitting that his team’s lack of aggression and failure to win the ball back swiftly contributed to their downfall.
However, he was equally quick to point out that there were many moments during the game where Roma played well. “For long spells we played really well. We controlled the game, shifted the ball around well and created chances. When we stopped doing that we immediately conceded a goal. That’s something we need to improve on.” His statement reflected a manager who, while acknowledging his team’s shortcomings, was still focused on the positives.
The conversation then turned to the attacking aspect of Roma’s play, with the observation that the center forward seemed isolated and lacked support from the attacking midfielders. Juric agreed with this critique, admitting that more could be done to support the striker. “Yes, I agree with that. We showed lots of good play to get the ball up into the final third and that’s where we need a bit more quality.” He noted that the build-up play often fell short once Roma entered the attacking third, highlighting the need for better combinations in and around the box.
Juric also mentioned that while Eldor Shomurodov’s role required more crosses into the box, Roma should have tried more one-twos and intricate passing moves through the middle. “With [Artem] Dovbyk we were able to get the ball into the box trying to play 1 v 1, he was able to lay the ball off and we had chances through [Lorenzo] Pellegrini.” Juric’s analysis was both critical and constructive, emphasizing that while Roma’s play in the final third was decent, there was still room for improvement in terms of making the most out of attacking opportunities.
In terms of the team’s overall structure and what might need to change, Juric was measured in his response. Rather than pointing to a lack of quality or tactical issues, he focused on the ongoing process of getting the best out of his squad. “There’s no point getting too far ahead. I have a top-quality squad and I need to get the best out of it,” he explained, indicating that he remained confident in his players’ abilities despite the disappointing result.
Juric also reiterated that there was no need to panic or make sweeping changes based on one result, even though improvements were needed. “I’m very happy with lots of things. Of course, there’s plenty of room for improvement but we’ll get there.” He showed optimism that, given time, the team would grow into their roles, continue to improve their cohesion, and find better solutions, particularly in defensive transitions and finishing attacks. “Now we need to focus on our games, on Monza. We’re playing all the time. There’s lots of work to do but we’ve already taken huge strides forward in terms of our play.”
As the interview continued, Juric addressed the performance of individual players, including Matias Soule. The Argentine midfielder has come under scrutiny for failing to fully live up to his potential since arriving in Serie A, but Juric was quick to defend him. “He’s a hard-working lad with a lot of quality. This is his second year in Serie A,” Juric stated, emphasizing that Soule was still adapting to the higher demands of playing for Roma after his time at Frosinone.
According to Juric, Soule’s struggles stem not from a lack of talent, but from the pressure and expectations placed on him. “Right now he’s perhaps not expressing his full potential but he’s getting on the ball all the time, he’s asking for it, and that means the pressure is not getting to him,” Juric observed, indicating that the player had the right mentality but needed more time to develop.
Juric also discussed Soule’s positioning on the pitch, which had been a topic of concern in previous games. “He needs to keep calm, keep working and developing, both physically and in his positioning.” Juric remarked that Soule’s positioning had already improved compared to past matches, a sign that he was progressing under the manager’s guidance. “I thought his positioning today was already better than other times.” While acknowledging that there was still work to do, Juric expressed his faith in Soule’s ability to grow and contribute more significantly to the team.
In conclusion, Juric’s post-match interview reflected a coach who remained pragmatic and focused on long-term improvement. While the match against Elfsborg ended in a disappointing result, Juric refused to dwell on the negatives. Instead, he highlighted the positive aspects of the performance, such as his team’s ball movement and chance creation. He acknowledged the defensive lapses and the need for more incisive play in the final third but was adamant that these were issues that could be addressed with time and hard work.
Juric’s faith in his players was clear throughout the interview. He praised their attitude and effort, even while identifying areas where improvement was necessary. His comments on Soule, in particular, demonstrated his belief that young players needed time and patience to fully realize their potential at the highest level. The key takeaway from Juric’s interview was that, despite the setbacks, he remained confident in the direction Roma was heading under his leadership. The focus was on building, improving, and ultimately delivering better results as the season progressed.
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