
Pisilli receives award, reflects on Roma's Champions League qualification and growth under Gasperini
Niccolò Pisilli was honored with the Premio Arancio at an Italian sports press union event, where he spoke about Roma's return to the Champions League and his development as a midfielder. The Roma centrocampist, celebrating the club's qualification secured the previous day, received the award from Marco Tardelli, the 1982 World Cup winner. Pisilli praised head coach Gian Piero Gasperini's impact on the squad, saying: "It was very important. He brought his ideas, his personality. We were good at following him, and especially in the second half of the season, I believe we managed to implement his ideas best. We understood the concepts better and also played good football for many matches. His history speaks for itself. He has improved so many players, so many young people. I always followed him in every training session and, training session after training session, I grew and managed to carve out my own space." Pisilli credited Roma's consistency throughout the season for securing Champions League football, noting the team remained in contention despite occasional setbacks. Tardelli jokingly remarked on the midfielder's maturity and composure, saying he saw similarities to his younger self. Pisilli also emphasized the honor of representing Italy, expressing hope for future World Cup participation. He identified Roma's 2–1 loss to Parma as a particularly difficult moment, yet highlighted the squad's resilience in bouncing back and ultimately achieving their goal.



