Inexperience cost us, says Blanc

Coach Laurent Blanc said FC Girondins de Bordeaux's inexperience was the main difference between his side and AS Roma after they fell to a 3-1 defeat at the Stade Chaban-Delmas. He added that his players should take confidence from the performance, particularly given that they played for nearly an hour with ten men following Henrique's 36th-minute dismissal. Roma coach Luciano Spalletti denied that was a turning point, preferring instead to highlight the impact the 51st-minute introduction of Júlio Baptista had on his side along with Mirko Vučinić's 64th-minute equaliser.  

Laurent Blanc, Bordeaux coach
Do I think Henrique's sending off changed the game? Yes, obviously. I can say two things hurt us: firstly Jussîe's injury and then Henrique's dismissal. Before that we had played well, as well as Roma, and I told the lads that. I know we lost, but it was a good game. We can take confidence from a game like that. There was a difference between Roma and us, not with the players or the level of play, but with experience. Only that, experience. I want them to remember that. I am very confident about our team and their frame of mind. This defeat doesn't change the way I see things. I always thought the Champions League would be tough for us. I said before the game we can qualify. That is still the case, though we have less chance now. I'm afraid of the effect this game will have on our Ligue 1 campaign. It's another loss and we have not started well in the league.

Luciano Spalletti, Roma coach
We deserved to win. We started very badly and during the first hour Bordeaux played well and we struggled. I was afraid we might lose. I don't believe the sending off changed the game because after their player was dismissed Bordeaux kept playing well, even with fewer players. I think Vučinić's goal changed everything. It gave us strength. We needed enthusiasm, we needed heart. We made our substitutions at the right time. Baptista gave us his personality, his strength of spirit, his experience. He scored two wonderful goals. His free-kick was awesome. I'm not surprised Cluj drew with Chelsea [in the evening's other Group A match]. They are a good side. Everything is open and that result will give us hope.