Roma manager Rudi Garcia has confessed that he was "mortified" by his side's elimination from the Europa League at the hands of Serie A rivals Fiorentina.
The Giallorossi dropped out of the competition at the last-16 phase 4-1 on aggregate after losing the second leg 3-0 in the Italian capital.
"It was a shock defeat," Garcia told Mediaset Premium. "Fiorentina deserve credit for making the most of our errors. I am mortified, though. We had the right desire but we paid a heavy price for individual errors.
"Now we have to try to salvage the season by securing second place. If we qualify for the Champions League I think that it will be an acceptable campaign.
"There are 11 battles remaining in Serie A. It's just the staff and the players. I will not let go of hope we can do it for a second - we have to lift our heads and get on with it, to use our anger positively. That's what I expect from my players."
A Gonzalo Rodriguez penalty coupled with goals from Marcos Alonso and Jose Basanta fired Fiorentina into the quarter-finals of the tournament.
Mark Langshaw
