GOAL

Rudi Garcia says Roma's Serie A season remains far from over despite their damaging 2-0 defeat toSampdoria on Monday.

The coach has called on his players to "lose with dignity" after their defeat to Sampdoria but insists there is still plenty to play for this season

Goals from Lorenzo De Silvestri and Luis Muriel gave the visitors all three points at the Stadio Olimpico, as Roma surrendered their unbeaten home record in the league and failed to cut the 14-point gap to Juventus.

With bitter rivals Lazio now just a point behind in third, Garcia has urged his players to "lose with dignity" and get back to winning ways as soon as possible.

"Roma played football, especially in the first half, but Sampdoria took their chances and we didn't," he toldSky Sport Italia.

"Samp scored with their first opportunity thanks to our mistake on a corner. We tried to equalise, but it was difficult with 10 men, plus we only played a few days ago.

"There is no time to complain, we must lose with dignity and realise that nothing is lost yet in Serie A. We have to pick up the points we dropped in this game.

"I have always said that, as long as we create chances to score, then the team is working. We need to rediscover our scoring touch from Thursday."

Garcia, who also claimed Seydou Keita's dismissal for dissent was "entirely avoidable" admits his star players must be decisive for the rest of the season after Roma - especially Francesco Totti - missed a number of chances on Monday with the score at 0-0.

He added: "It is normal to expect a lot from talented players and we certainly have some. It means they have to settle the game when the chances come their way."

Roma face Fiorentina in the second leg of their Europa League last-16 tie on Thursday, with the tie hanging in the balance after a 1-1 draw last week.