Cristante: Roma deserve Champions League return, one final piece missing

Gian Piero Gasperini addressed the media ahead of Roma's Derby della Capitale against Lazio in matchday 37 of the season. The Roma head coach reflected on a remarkable comeback, emphasizing that significant work remains with 90 minutes still to play. Gasperini highlighted the importance of connecting with the supporters, stating that earning the fans' trust is more valuable than winning a league title.

El Shaarawy spoke ahead of Roma's clash with Lazio in the Derby della Capitale, a Serie A match on matchday 37. The player expressed gratitude for what Roma has given him during his time at the club. El Shaarawy stated: "Roma has given me so much. It is a satisfaction to receive this greeting." The forward's comments reflect his emotional connection to the Giallorossi and the significance of derby matches in the Italian capital.

Stephan El Shaarawy, Roma's number 92, spoke after the club's derby victory against Lazio, with the match marking his final appearance in giallorosso colours at the Olimpico. He described experiencing strong emotions following the win and paid tribute to the club for its role in his development as both a player and person. El Shaarawy expressed pride in his time at Roma and gratitude for the opportunity to represent the club. The winger addressed Roma's pursuit of Champions League qualification, emphasizing the importance of the team's remaining fixture. He acknowledged that despite other results going in their favor during the derby day, Roma must capitalize on their final match to secure their target. El Shaarawy stated: "There was hope, we did our part. Now we have one last match left and we cannot make a mistake. Let's continue like this because we deserve the Champions League." El Shaarawy's departure follows the derby success, which saw Roma defeat their city rivals in a keenly contested match. His comments reflect both a personal goodbye to the Olimpico faithful and a rallying cry for Roma's final push toward Champions League qualification.

AS Roma face mounting injury and suspension concerns ahead of their match at Verona. Ndicka has suffered a second-degree right hamstring injury with a recovery timeline of approximately one month, ruling him out of the Verona fixture and raising doubts about his participation in the World Cup. Wesley is suspended and risks a two-match ban following the derby, forcing head coach Gasperini to restructure the defence. Celik will cover the right flank while Rensch operates on the opposite side, with Ghilardi—recently returned from a season at Hellas Verona—competing to replace Ndicka alongside Mancini and Hermoso. The injury toll extends further into Roma's midfield. Koné missed the derby due to a muscular problem and trained separately as the squad resumed work, with low odds of starting at Bentegodi. Pellegrini remained sidelined from the derby because of inflammation around his biceps scar and is listed as doubtful, though he is determined to feature given World Cup considerations. Venturino also carries injury risk with knee inflammation. Paulo Dybala is confirmed to lead the attack alongside Malen, with Bryan Cristante and Niccolò Pisilli providing midfield stability. If Koné cannot feature, either El Aynaoui or Matías Soulé will step into the lineup.

Roma secured a derby victory against Lazio, earning three crucial points in the Champions League race. The win highlighted the importance of consistent performance during difficult periods. Former manager De Rossi commented on the match, focusing on the contributions of key players. He remarked that Dybala, Mancini, Pellegrini and Cristante are driving the team forward during moments of crisis. These players continue to be central to Roma's efforts to maintain competitiveness in the league.

Bryan Cristante has spoken ahead of the Derby della Capitale between Roma and SS Lazio in Matchday 37 of Serie A. The midfielder emphasized the importance of the fixture for Roma's Champions League ambitions. Regarding his tactical role in the match, Cristante kept details unclear, suggesting his exact positioning would be revealed during the game. The derby takes place during a critical stage of the season as Roma continues its push for European qualification.