Roma boss Rudi Garcia "mortified" by Europa League exit

Roma manager Rudi Garcia has confessed that he was "mortified" by his side's elimination from the Europa League at the hands of Serie A rivals Fiorentina.

The Giallorossi dropped out of the competition at the last-16 phase 4-1 on aggregate after losing the second leg 3-0 in the Italian capital.

"It was a shock defeat," Garcia told Mediaset Premium. "Fiorentina deserve credit for making the most of our errors. I am mortified, though. We had the right desire but we paid a heavy price for individual errors.

"Now we have to try to salvage the season by securing second place. If we qualify for the Champions League I think that it will be an acceptable campaign.

"There are 11 battles remaining in Serie A. It's just the staff and the players. I will not let go of hope we can do it for a second - we have to lift our heads and get on with it, to use our anger positively. That's what I expect from my players."

A Gonzalo Rodriguez penalty coupled with goals from Marcos Alonso and Jose Basanta fired Fiorentina into the quarter-finals of the tournament.