Dutch midfielder Marten deRoon has expressed his deep disappointment at Roma's 4-3 defeat to Real Madrid at the Olimpico, after scoring the team's first goal in the Champions League. With a tense voice, he underlined how the match, which seemed destined to end in favor of the Giallorossi, ended in "huge disappointment" due to a defense that was unable to contain the opposing attacks.
DeRoon, who started playing for Roma after his exit from Atalanta, recalled the momentary advantage the team had gained thanks to his goal. “We still had 15 minutes to play and we let the game slip away,” he said, highlighting the frustration of conceding two goals from corners at that critical moment. The player added that the defense failed to handle those situations adequately, making it even more difficult to accept the result.
Despite the defeat, DeRoon remarked on the personal satisfaction of having scored his first goal in the Champions League. “It's always special to score your first goal in the Champions League, especially in my first match here at the Olimpico,” he said. However, he expressed his wish that he had won the match, noting that "I would have much preferred not to score and to walk off the field with a victory, because this defeat really hurts."
The midfielder then invited his teammates not to let themselves be discouraged and to react with determination. "We have to accept the result and learn from this match. We can't dwell on this disappointment for too long, but we have to analyze what didn't work and make sure we improve," he concluded, inviting the team to look forward and work on the gaps that emerged.
For Roma, the match against Real Madrid represented a hard blow, but also an opportunity to reflect on their performances and to strengthen their defense in the upcoming Champions League matches. The club will now have to focus on recovery and preparation for the next European challenges, trying to transform disappointment into motivation for the next matches.