Weekly Ratings: Roma Fans Praised, Malen Stars, Gasperini Builds Champions League Project

Former Milan and Roma player Fulvio Collovati has given an interview to La Repubblica discussing the race for third and fourth place in Serie A. Collovati expressed confidence in Roma's prospects, suggesting he does not see how the club could stumble against Verona. The specific details of his analysis regarding Roma's positioning in the league and their upcoming fixture remain unclear from the available text.

Former Roma and Verona striker Maurizio Iorio has expressed confidence in head coach Gian Piero Gasperini's ability to lead the club to sustained success. Speaking ahead of Roma's crucial match against Verona, Iorio praised Gasperini's impact in his first season, saying: "The coach has made a strong impression, has shaped an important group in his first year, offered attractive football: the Champions League is well deserved. That would allow the club to have more economic strength for new investments. I see a rosy future. Roma is ready to open a new horizon, a winning cycle, and has fantastic supporters alongside it, for me the first in Italy." Iorio highlighted Donyell Malen as a powerful attacking threat, noting his ability to create danger from wide positions and comparing him to Vialli for the way defenders react to his movement. On the prospect of pairing him with another striker, Iorio suggested the solution already exists within the squad. He commented on Paulo Dybala: "Dybala doesn't need any introduction. If I were him, I would stay at Roma. Paulo is not greedy and the club has a future and will bring home a trophy with Gasperini." Roma's performance under Gasperini this season has reportedly earned them qualification to European competition. The upcoming Verona fixture is seen as decisive for the club's final standing.

Former Roma manager Fabio Capello has assessed Roma's position in the race for the top four, with the club facing Verona in a decisive fixture. Roma and Milan enter the evening with their Champions League destiny in their own hands, and Capello believes Roma holds the advantage. He told Gazzetta dello Sport: "Roma is in very good form, has done important things recently, has shown consistency in play and team performance. They've also recovered all their players, for example Dybala: this means that Gasperini only has to get his choices right." Capello acknowledged the threat posed by Verona, a recently relegated side that has troubled top teams this season. "It's not straightforward to face a relegated team that will have ease of play and a feeling of revenge towards the championship. However, Roma on paper seems like the favourite to me," he explained. The former coach noted that Verona has proven problematic for Juventus, Como, and Inter, but maintains Roma's current form and full squad availability puts them in the strongest position heading into tonight's match.

AS Roma reached the Champions League after a seven-year absence, securing fourth place. The achievement sparked celebration among Roma supporters but proved devastating for Damiano Er Faina, a prominent Lazio-affiliated influencer, whose reaction to the final day became widely shared online. A video captured his shift from momentary joy at a Malen penalty miss to despair when the Roma forward scored from the rebound. Er Faina posted a lengthy commentary on his reaction to the evening, saying: "What a terrible evening. Roma return to the Champions League after 7 years. One of the most arrogant coaches in history goes to the Champions League, Cesc Fabregas. AC Milan finish sixth after a shameful performance. I am consumed, emptied. The season has taken my soul. I have failed on everything or nearly. I will need 24 hours of reflection on my football arguments." The Lazio supporter also referenced a separate viral video in which Francesco Totti was asked whether he would prefer to see Roma or Lazio in Serie B, providing additional context to the day's events for the rival fanbases. Roma's qualification marks a significant milestone after their previous spell outside European football's premier competition.

Roma secured Champions League qualification with a victory over Verona, with head coach Gasperini carried aloft by his players in celebration at the final whistle. The match featured tension and drama before joy took hold. Donyell Malen converted a penalty, Paulo Dybala added a goal with a rare left-footed finish, and Malen struck again. El Shaarawy sealed the result in the closing stages. At full time, Gasperini embraced assistant coach Gritti before the squad lifted him in the air in triumph, mirroring the success he has delivered to the club. This qualification marks a significant achievement for Roma under Gasperini's leadership. The victory was characterized by nervous moments—including a save that recalled Spiderman-like reflexes from the goalkeeper—but the team ultimately delivered when it mattered most. El Shaarawy, described as the last player to compete in the Champions League for Roma before his departure and the man who has now brought the competition back, sealed the dramatic finish. The celebrations moved to the away supporters' section, where Roma fans marked the occasion with chants, flags, waving, and emotional embraces. Club officials and players acknowledged this represents only the beginning of festivities, with the focus now shifting to celebrating the return to Europe's elite competition.

Manchester United forward Joshua Zirkzee has been offered to AS Roma and Juventus as a potential return to Serie A, according to reports. The Dutch striker, who left Bologna to join Man Utd for a reported £36.5 million in summer 2024, has struggled in the Premier League with only two goals and one assist across 23 league appearances this season. His market value has reportedly dropped to around €25 million, placing him within financial reach of both Italian clubs. Roma may be in the market for a forward if Paulo Dybala departs when his contract expires in June. However, the club is expected to bring Donyell Malen into the squad on a permanent basis following an impressive six-month loan spell, with the Dutch winger set to have a prominent role under head coach Gian Piero Gasperini. Zirkzee's underwhelming time at Old Trafford could make Roma and Juventus hesitant about pursuing the move, despite his earlier success during two years at Bologna. Man Utd are reportedly keen to offload the forward in the coming transfer window as he has been relegated to the bottom of the pecking order.