Roma Can Learn Some Valuable Lessons from Their Champions League Elimination

Roma lost 2-0 to Manchester City in their Champions League finale at the Stadio Olimpico on Wednesday. As a result, the Giallorossi have been eliminated from the competition. Despite some earlier success in the competition, manager Rudi Garcia is probably disappointed with his team's overall performance during the second half of the group phase.

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The Serie A runners-up began their Champions League campaign with a bang. They crushed CSKA Moscow 5-1 at home before drawing Man City 1-1 at the Etihad Stadium. The Romans ended up claiming just one point in their last four games while conceding 12 goals in that span.

On one hand, Roma were dealing with injuries at the beginning of the season, especially in midfield. Players like Daniele De Rossi, Kevin Strootman, Davide Astori and Leandro Castan didn't play in some crucial Champions League matches.

Defenders Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa and Kostas Manolas were heavily exposed against Man City and versus Bayern Munich, mainly in the 7-1 thrashing in the Italian capital. It's clear that Bayern are contenders for the Champions League, but they're not six goals stronger than the second-best team in Serie A. The return game seemed to prove that fact, as it was only a 2-0 loss for the Romans.

Every Roma player capitulated in both of those games. The pressure, coupled with the injuries and the rotation, seemed to rattle Roma in the latter portion of the group stage. It also didn't help that the Giallorossi were sixth in shots conceded per game with 17, via WhoScored.com.

That could easily describe Roma during their last four matches in the Champions League. They were brilliant in flashes, they managed to create some quality scoring chances but couldn't stay compact at the back. The same pattern occurred on Wednesday.

Roma had 15 attempts versus City, per WhoScored. That was a season high for the Giallrossi in the competition. Overall, they ranked 28th in shots out of all 32 Champions League teams, via WhoScored. 

Monaco was the only club below Roma in that category who ended up progressing to the knockout stage. However, they didn't have to face someone like Manchester City or Bayern in their group.

Gervinho, Adem Ljajic, Juan Iturbe and Francesco Totti were able to test the opposing goalkeeper, but, apart from the first meeting against CSKA Moscow, they failed to convert their chances. That comes back to haunt teams when they face the firepower of Bayern or City.

It appears as if a new goalkeeper and some defensive cover are two necessities for Roma during the summer. Morgan De Sanctis is a valuable back-up but shouldn't be starting in Champions League matches. Maicon has shown signs of his age—he isn't as fast as he once was—so a right-back could help the Giallorossi as well.

It would have helped to have a fit for De Rossi, Strootman or Castan, who has been a vastly underrated defender for Roma. However, conceding late, crumbling under pressure and the failure to convert shots into goals ended up costing the Italians a spot in the last 16.

On the bright side, Roma are only three points behind Juventus for the top spot in Serie A. The capital club is a virtual lock to return to the Champions League next year, so they'll have plenty of time to improve and build for the 2015/16 season.