Roma coach Spalletti rues missed opportunity

Roma coach Luciano Spalletti -- seen here on the eve of their Champions League match against manchester United in 2007 -- has lamented his side´s missed opportunity to make up ground on Inter Milan following the late drama that allowed the champions to snatch a 3-2 victory over Parma.

      ROME (AFP) - Roma coach Luciano Spalletti lamented his side's missed opportunity to make up ground on leaders Inter Milan following the late drama that allowed the champions to snatch a 3-2 victory over Parma on Sunday night. A highly-controversial penalty in the dying minutes allowed Inter to draw level at 2-2 in a match they appeared to be on the brink of losing. And deep into injury time Sweden forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic smashed home a brilliant winner to end Roma's and Spalletti's hopes of eating into Inter's seven-point lead at the top of the Serie A table. What made it worse was that it was a dodgy penalty decision - with Parma's veteran Portuguese defender Fernando Couto penalised for handling in the area when the ball hit his head first before deflecting on to his arm - that changed the course of the match in Inter's favour. "You always have to look at the positives from the flow of the game," Spalletti told an Italian Radio station on Monday. "We don't need to concern ourselves with ifs and buts. The question of whether or not a penalty should be given is always contentious." More than anything, Spalletti was just frustrated that his side have yet to experience some rewards for their hard work, as Inter keep on winning and offering no encouragement to their pursuers. "For (me) the final outcome was hugely disappointing because it was the moment where we could have started to come back at them. "But above all my team deserve to feel like they are catching Inter because they're having a great season." Spalletti, though, is delighted with his players, who overcame the absence of captain and talisman Francesco Totti once again to beat Catania 2-0 on Sunday. Roma have often been without Totti and various other important players throughout the season but have still managed to keep their title hopes alive. "We need to draw inspiration from the nerazzurri's (Inter) incredible results," he added. "We need to believe that our maturity and character will make the difference regardless of the absence of any players, even in a difficult, long and tiring championship like ours. "My team has managed to keep pace with an incredible Inter team, even without some of our most important players. And this is vital in the quest to realise our goals."