Gasperini dismisses hierarchy talk, insists all players are starters

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.

Torino head coach Ignazio Abate has praised Gian Piero Gasperini's tactical innovations ahead of tomorrow's 18:30 kickoff against Roma, while confirming two injury concerns for his own squad. Adams is unavailable with an adductor problem, and Simeone is doubtful with a back issue. Abate used his pre-match press conference to frame the fixture as a significant test of Torino's progress this season. He noted that Roma, buoyed by their victory at Florence, present a formidable challenge. "They are a strong team living a brilliant moment with great individual players, and we are ready," he said. Torino's recent integration of new players is progressing well, he added, with the group two weeks into their work together and improving in tactical understanding and physical condition. Coco has recovered from injury and is available. On his opposite number, Abate said: "He has revolutionised modern football with his man-to-man approach. It is very vertical, he invades the box with many players, he has revolutionised modern football—his career speaks for itself." Abate rejected the notion of the match as an examination of his team's maturity. "For us it is not a test of maturity, it is a step, a journey started a few months ago. We also have our weapons and we must try to deploy them on the pitch."

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.