With American Michael Bradley not in the team, Roma dropped  a 4-1 decision at Juventus, incurring the wrath of sporting director Walter Sabatini, who said afterward, “Many players don’t deserve to wear the shirt.”

The Giallorossi conceded three goals in the first19 minutes and were never in the game. “In the space of a few minutes, we suffered two upper-cuts, then the team just disappeared,” said Sabatini. “We ask our players to react. Let us not getdiscouraged.”

Sabatini backed veteran coach Zdenek Zeman, whose tactics have come in for criticism, though he admitted the club’s rebuildingprogram was now behind schedule. “We are not yet gelled as a team,” he said, “but must face every game with a different spirit. Right now.”

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