Conte: Juventus were too 'shy'

Juventus boss Antonio Conte admitted his team were too ‘shy’ as they tumbled out of the Coppa Italia at the hands of Roma.

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The Rome club avenged their 3-0 defeat to Juventus earlier this month by booking a semi-final spot with a 1-0 win in front of their home fans.

But in a balanced game between two strong Serie A rivals, Conte said his side found it hard to ‘deal’ with their hosts.

“It was a balances game, and Roma's goal came when we were playing better. In the first half, we were perhaps a little too shy, but I do think we can say that we suffered,” Conte said.

"We're two strong teams, this time it went in their favour and they won. The guys are not to blame. We have used the Coppa Italia to rotate.

"There's the Scudetto and the Europa League. It was not easy to come here and deal with this Roma. We could have won but in the end they won."

However, the tide could have easily have turned towards the visitors had Roma defender Mehdi Benatia been shown a straight red in the 14th for his foul on Sebastian Giovinco.

And after the match Conte admitted he could not understand the referee’s decision not to send-off the Moroccan international.

"I think he was the last man,” Conte said. “I don't understand it. However, I'm not going to replace the referee. He decided it that way and we accept it."