'Roma couldn't string three passes together' – Pjanic embarrassed by Bayern beating

The Bosnian was stunned that the Bavarians so easily swept aside last season’s Scudetto runners-up and blamed conceding in the opening 10 minutes on his side’s capitulation

Miralem Pjanic expressed his embarrassment that Roma “couldn’t string three or four passes together” as they were thrashed by Bayern Munich on Tuesday.

Arjen Robben (two), Mario Gotze, Robert Lewandowski, Thomas Muller, Franck Ribery and Xherdan Shaqiri all got on the scoresheet as Pep Guardiola’s men easily dispatched the Giallorossi at the Stadio Olimpico, with only a Gervinho consolation goal to take from the 7-1 hammering.

Pjanic was shocked at how he and his Roma team-mates were humiliated in the Champions League group stage game, but believes it all could have gone so differently had they not let Bayern take the lead in the opening 10 minutes.

“If we hadn’t conceded the goal so early, it would’ve been a different game,” the midfielder, 24, told Sky Sport.

“Bayern pressed for 90 minutes, never allowing us space, as every time we had the ball in midfield there was someone on us.

“We couldn’t string three or four passes together or play our usual football. It’s a crying shame, we faced a very strong side, but we are still second in the group and have to avoid anything like this happening again.

“We expected a very different night. It is difficult to accept it or to say anything intelligent or constructive. This is not the real Roma and I can’t explain what happened.

“No one expected this, now we have to put it behind us and from Saturday start winning again.”

Roma have Serie A games against Sampdoria, Cesena and Napoli to regain some confidence before they travel to the Allianz Arena to face Bayern again on Wednesday November 5.

Last season’s Scudetto runners-up remain second in Group E due to Manchester City and CSKA Moscow’s draw prior to Roma’s heavy defeat on Tuesday.

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