AS Roma looked poised for a memorable victory at the Stadio Olimpico after building a 3-1 advantage, but Real Madrid scored three times late in the game to turn the contest around and leave the Italian side empty-handed.
Soulé was left frustrated by the manner of the defeat, believing Roma had done enough over much of the match to earn a positive result. The forward stressed that his team could not afford to switch off, particularly against opponents capable of punishing defensive lapses.
“I have no words. It was a match that was in our hands, and we lost it from three corners. It has to serve as a lesson for us. We must be attentive for all 90 minutes. We have to think about the next game,” Soulé told Prime Video.
The Argentine was particularly concerned that Roma had conceded in similar circumstances, with the late collapse undoing much of their earlier work.
Asked whether the defeat was a question of mentality, he replied: “I think so. Conceding three goals that were practically identical is something that is not good.”
The result was especially painful given Roma’s performance before the late turnaround. They had put themselves in a strong position against one of European football’s most successful clubs, only to see their advantage disappear in the closing stages.
Real Madrid’s late response underlined the importance of maintaining concentration until the final whistle. Carlos Espí, Endrick and former Roma defender Antonio Rüdiger scored during the visitors’ decisive comeback, with Rüdiger completing the turnaround.
For Soulé and his teammates, the immediate challenge is to move on from the disappointment while taking the lessons into their next fixtures. Roma cannot change the outcome, but the forward made clear that the team must address the defensive lapses that proved so costly.
His message was straightforward: the performance cannot be judged only by the promising spells before the collapse. Roma must sustain their focus throughout the match if they are to compete consistently at Champions League level.