Luciano Spalletti described Roma as ‘perfect’ in beating Lyon 2-0 to reach the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League.
After a goalless draw in the first leg, Roma had been the underdogs to progress against the French champions.
But a Francesco Totti header, and a marvellous goal from Alessandro Mancini, secured the Italian side a 2-0 success at Stade Gerland.
“My side have been perfect,” said Spalletti.
“My guys did really good things from the beginning, scoring two sensational goals.
“But they have also been perfect in not reacting to Lyon’s provocation. There have been a few contacts that could have been avoided.
“These guys are doing what they must do from the beginning of the season, maybe something more.
“I think our win is absolutely deserved.”
Lyon coach Gerard Houllier described Lyon’s exit from the competition as ‘an enormous disappointment’.
“It is an enormous disappointment, but that is football, that is life,” Houllier told TF1.
“What I maintain is that they were much more clinical, especially in the first half.
“There were some chances at goal from which we did not profit, on the other hand they had two of them and scored two goals from it.
“The turning point of the match is the second goal because, from there, it became mission impossible.”
The Lyon coach also admitted that many of his players turned in below-par performances.
“There were too many players below their usual level to eliminate Roma,” he said.
“The first goal is a careless error, he (Totti) was left at the back. The second goal is the proof that there was an enormous tactical misfiring.
“We were eliminated by a very good team, we should not take away the merit for the opponent.”
