Roma coach Claudio Ranieri admits his players must learn how to cope better under pressure as the Serie A title race hots up.
The Giallorossi beat city rivals Lazio 2-1 to regain top spot in the standings from Inter Milan with four games remaining.
Roma trailed 1-0 at half-time and Ranieri took the bold decision to substitute skipper Francesco Totti and his vice-captain Daniele De Rossi.
"Why did I substitute Totti and De Rossi? They feel the derby too much," Ranieri said.
"They don't play like they can when they face Lazio and were too heated up in the first half.
"That is why I took them off.
"In my career, I have taken many decisions like this one. For example, in Valencia I brought off Romario.
"I do it all for the good of the team.
"As it is, we are up there (top of the standings) and my players are not used to that pressure.
"We just have to enjoy it and wait to see where we finish."
Ranieri hailed Roma goalkeeper Julio Sergio, who denied Lazio a second goal of the game by saving Sergio Floccari's penalty early in the second half.
Mirko Vucinic then struck twice to overturn Tommaso Rocchi's 14th-minute opener and hand Roma a vital three points.
"We wanted to win this game," Ranieri said. "The penalty save gave us the strength to react to a difficult situation.
"In the first half we weren't in the game.
"But there's no doubt that the penalty save was the turning point."
Two-goal hero Vucinic agreed with his coach's assessment.
"I think Julio Sergio's save was crucial because, had we gone 2-0 down in the second half, I don't know how it would have ended," he said.
"To win the derby is the most special feeling for any player and to have scored two goals is fantastic."
Vucinic was relieved with the result, saying: "This win is very important for us.
"With Inter having won against Juventus on Friday, we had a lot of pressure for two days.
"But today we proved that we are a great team."
Lazio coach Edy Reja was left disappointed not just by the result, which left his team only three points above the drop zone, but by the behaviour of some Roma players after the game.
Totti enraged the home fans by sticking two thumbs down while celebrating the win on the pitch.
"We had the game under control and we deserved to take the three points," Reja said. "Unfortunately, it was not our night.
"I am saddened with what has happened at the end of the game.
"Totti is an important player and he should avoid certain gestures.
"He deserves a 10-match ban because those gestures show no sportsmanship."
Roma host Sampdoria on Sunday while Inter face Atalanta at the San Siro in their next match.
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