Roma defender Alessandro Florenzi has admitted he'd rather have had "70,000 fans jeering" the club on Wednesday night than the 29,000 who came.

The Giallorossi were held to a 0-0 draw against Belarusian outfit BATE Borisov infront of not even a half full Stadio Olimpico, who jeered throughout.

Roma haven't won in five games now and Rudi Garcia has grown under increasing pressure. Up next for last season's runners up is a tricky away tie to Napoli, who've won 13 of their last fifteen games in all competitions, losing just the once. Napoli sit three points ahead of the Romans and could go back to the summit of Serie A if they leave victorious given other results go their way. There isn't any "glamour" home ties for Roma until Milan come to town in January post-winter break. 

Must remain positive

Despite the poor attendance the Italian international said the team must remain "positive" because afterall they "achieved the objective" of qualification to the knockout stages.

The fans "pay for their tickets and can do whatever they want" as far as Florenzi is concerned but he went on to say how he'd rather have had "70,000 fans jeering."

Florenzi told Sport Mediaset that if they don't start playing as a team they will "fall off the road." Rudi Garcia is a coach who "works on every aspect" and "we just need to follow his direction" Florenzi continued.  

Rivals also lacking support

Just over 27,000 attended as Lazio were downed by Juventus last Friday and there wasn't even 5000 fans at their last home Europa League tie in which they won 3-1 against last years finalists Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk.

The Stadio Olimpico was only half full for last month's derby between the two long time rivals but this was partly down to both Curva's boycotting the game over the new security measures at the stadium.

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Cammy Anderson
Calcio-editor-in-chief Email: [email protected]