Gasperini backs de Roon: 'He could not have ended up on the shelf. It is a fortune to have him at Roma'

Gian Piero Gasperini has confirmed Paulo Dybala will start tomorrow's match in Turin, dismissing any doubt about the forward's availability. Speaking at his press conference, the coach stated simply: "If he is well, he plays." Dybala has been in outstanding form across the opening four Serie A matches, starting all of them and accumulating 343 minutes on the pitch—an average of 85 per game. Those figures demand a return to his time at Palermo (318 minutes in 2014) and Juventus (345 minutes in 2015) to find comparable workload numbers. Gasperini elaborated on his selection philosophy, saying: "One rests when tired. If he is well do you want to put him to sleep? You cannot know when someone will get injured, but if he is well, he plays. If someone needs to rest, it is right that he rests. We will decide match by match. The important thing is to try to make the most of each player's favourable moment." The message is unambiguous: Dybala is the strongest player in the league and Gasperini will not be parted from him lightly. The Juventus academy graduate is chasing his first goal of the season after his last strike came in Turin in January; he has since endured a lengthy injury lay-off but has been prolific in providing assists. Dybala has registered four assists across the opening three league matches. No player has recorded more than four assists in a club's opening four Serie A games since data became available in 2004–05. He joins Antonio Cassano (2009–10), Ignazio Abate (2014–15), Lorenzo Insigne (2017–18) and Lorenzo Pellegrini (2019–20) in that exclusive company.

Donyell Malen has the chance to make Roma history in the upcoming match against Torino. The Dutchman has already scored a hattrick and a brace this season, and only two players in the club's history have scored more than five goals in the opening four Serie A matches: Pedro Manfredini, who scored seven times in the 1960/61 campaign, and Francesco Totti, who scored six in the 2000/01 season. A goal against Torino would make Malen the third player to achieve the feat. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini is considering rotation after Roma's mid-week Champions League fixture away from home, but Malen is expected to start against the Turin club and is viewed as an indispensable asset.

Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini addressed Paulo Dybala's availability and playing time, stating that the forward will always play when fit. Gasperini said: "The important thing is to try to make the most of each player's favourable moment. All matches are tough." He also noted that injuries cannot be foreseen, addressing questions around squad rotation and selection decisions. Gasperini's comments came as Roma prepare for fixtures ahead, with Dybala's fitness status a point of focus for the campaign. The coach dismissed any suggestion of artificial hierarchies in the squad, emphasizing a performance-based approach to team selection.

Gian Piero Gasperini held his pre-match press conference at Trigoria on 13 September ahead of Torino–Roma on Monday 14 September at 18:30, addressing squad fitness after the Champions League fixture in Istanbul. The coach confirmed Lorenzo Pellegrini's return to the squad and left open the possibility of Manu Koné featuring after a knee problem. On Paulo Dybala, Gasperini was unambiguous: "If he is well he always plays. There is no doubt about it. A player rests when he is tired. You cannot predict injury; we do not have a crystal ball. Tomorrow we have to play a great match to win at Torino, because it will be a difficult game and we need a squad at full strength." Pellegrini, he announced, would be included in the squad. "Perhaps for the first time, fingers crossed, we have everyone," Gasperini said. "We will see how Lulli is; he seems better today." Koné would test his fitness on 13 September: "He tries today; he could be there too." Wesley took a heavy blow to the knee late in the Istanbul match but Gasperini expressed confidence: "These are very strong athletes physically who recover in two days, let alone four." Molina, who arrived around 30 August, was described as "growing. Like De Roon and the latest arrivals, he needs to recover. On the value of the players there is no doubt." On Donyell Malen's form, Gasperini said: "The numbers are extraordinary. He has had excellent continuity. Taking Malen, I knew he was an important player for us, but we have certainly gone beyond expectations." He praised Rodrigo Mora as a player of "great talent" who "must complete himself both physically and tactically," adding: "I do not think there is a boy in the world who can be more of a protagonist than him at this moment." On Leonardo Balerdi's arrival strengthening the defence, Gasperini deflected comparisons of hierarchy: "Stop with the hierarchy talk; it is not fair to the players giving their maximum. Ghilardi has grown, Koulierakis is an important alternative, and at Marseille Balerdi did something remarkable. In Champions teams there are more first-choice players."

Marten de Roon faced a hostile reception from Atalanta's ultras during yesterday's match against Cagliari, who displayed a banner criticizing his move to Roma in the final days of the transfer window. The ultras were unhappy with both his departure and his celebration at the end of Saturday's match at the Olimpico. Gasperini moved to defend his midfielder, saying: "De Roon was for many years a player who brought honour to Atalanta and the city of Bergamo. He did something extraordinary, and now it's a privilege to have him here. As soon as he finds his best condition he will be an important player. Leaving Atalanta was not his choice, he did not fit into their plans. What was he supposed to become? An old shoe locked away in a cupboard?" De Roon remains one of Gasperini's trusted lieutenants at Roma. He will miss tomorrow's match against Torino while continuing to build fitness, but Gasperini expects him to become a key midfielder once his condition improves.

Gian Piero Gasperini held a pre-match press conference on 13 September ahead of Roma's fixture against Torino, addressing squad rotation, injury concerns and the demands of competing in European football alongside a packed domestic schedule. Gasperini rejected questions about defensive hierarchies, insisting the concept was counterproductive to team morale. "Please stop talking about hierarchies," he said. "It makes no sense and has no effect on the squad. Everyone is giving an important contribution. Ghilardi has improved, Koulierakis is an important alternative. We knew about Balerdi — he did something remarkable at Marseille, he's not a youngster. When you're in the Champions League there are multiple starters, otherwise it always becomes something controversial." He praised Daniele Ghilardi's development and highlighted the quality of defenders including Leonardo Balerdi, who arrived from Marseille. The coach also defended Marten de Roon following a banner displayed at Atalanta's Bergamo stadium, saying: "He's been a player who raised the name of Bergamo for many years. It's our good fortune to have him here. As soon as he finds his condition he'll be a player of great quality." On Paulo Dybala's availability, Gasperini was categorical: "If he's well he always plays. There's no doubt. A player rests when he's tired. You can't predict an injury, we don't have a crystal ball — if he's well he plays." Regarding Manu Koné, the coach confirmed: "Koné tests today, he could be there." Gasperini also announced the return of Lorenzo Pellegrini: "Tomorrow we recover Pellegrini too, he'll travel with us. Perhaps for the first time we really have everyone." He noted that Emanuele Lulli had a slight fever but was improving. On young forward Rodrigo Mora, Gasperini said: "I see a young player with enormous talent. He needs to complete himself physically and tactically, he arrived not long ago but what he's shown from the start or coming on mid-match is that of a youngster of great level. I don't believe there's a young player in the world capable of being the protagonist more than him right now." Wesley suffered a heavy blow to the knee on Thursday that affected him, though Gasperini expects him to recover. Nahuel Molina arrived on 30 August and has been at the club for 15 days, having missed pre-season preparation, but is improving. Gasperini stressed the challenge of managing fixture congestion with European competition, noting that Roma must now navigate an even more demanding schedule. He emphasised that all 20 outfield players plus goalkeepers were capable of contributing to the club's opportunity in the Champions League, where squad depth would be critical.