Roma suffered a 4–1 defeat in their opening pre-season friendly against Cardiff in Wales, a result Gasperini described as heavier than the performance itself suggested. The head coach attributed the loss to defensive lapses and lapses in concentration, particularly in the first half, where Roma conceded from loose play and poor positioning. Gasperini told reporters: "We were still struggling, especially at the back in the first half—we conceded from loose balls. Then we did good things going forward, but it's clear that if you're that careless and not in condition, not sharp in defence as we were in the first half, it becomes difficult. Then maybe you miss penalties and goals."
Gasperini called for urgent completion of Roma's squad, highlighting departures over the summer that have left the team short. He explained: "The market has been unusual because of the World Cup—it basically started now. Of course, from here on I expect something to happen. Several players have left and the squad absolutely needs completing—anyone can see that. Some players need to arrive to make the squad competitive. We have three midfielders out at the moment, someone just arrived, it's a bit disjointed. By August this can happen, but we hope to complete ourselves as quickly as possible because this is already the third week finished."
Gasperini praised Castro as an excellent acquisition and a player who improves the squad, noting the 2004-born striker wanted to join Roma at all costs. On partnership options, he confirmed Castro and Malen can play together but stressed the need for squad depth to manage fixture congestion. He listed priority needs as one defender, one winger, and two attackers compared to last season's squad, and confirmed Koulierakis would arrive to complete the defence. On Matías Soulé, Gasperini said: "He did well, he's already better, he played as a trequartista too."
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Roma suffered a disappointing 4–1 defeat to Cardiff in their season opener, prompting head coach Gian Piero Gasperini to demand immediate squad reinforcements. Gasperini attributed the loss to defensive lapses and lack of concentration, particularly in the first half where the team conceded goals from rebounds. He stressed that Roma must complete their roster urgently, emphasizing that competitive European campaigns require two players per position—a principle he said teams "pay heavily" for violating. Forza Roma reports Gasperini specifically identified needs for a defender, winger, and two attackers. The coach praised recent signings Castro, whom he called "an excellent operation," and confirmed defender Koulierakis will arrive. He also highlighted Matías Soulé's improved form. Despite Paulo Dybala scoring in the match, Gasperini made clear the current squad depth remains insufficient. With several players departed and the transfer window still active, the focus now shifts to the club's ability to move swiftly in the market to address these gaps before competitive fixtures commence.
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Testo Originale / Source Text
“La Roma prende la prima batosta estiva, perdendo 4-1 nel primo test in Galles contro il Cardiff. Un risultato senza dubbio più pesante di quanto visto in campo, condizionato soprattutto da errori e distrazioni sottolinate dallo stesso Gasperini nel postpartita. Il tecnico giallorosso ha parlato poi…”
Read the full article in Italian at Forza Roma.
