Gasperini on Malen's goal haul and the Verona match that defined his Roma tenure

Gian Piero Gasperini spoke at the Festival dello Sport in Trento, hosted by La Gazzetta dello Sport, reflecting on his time at Roma. In an exchange on the club's social media channels, he was asked about defining moments from the previous season and fielded questions on several topics. When asked which match had moved him most since taking charge, Gasperini said: "I would say the last league match against Verona, because there was the feeling of having reached an important milestone and with great satisfaction from the supporters." On the season's most difficult encounter, Gasperini pointed to Roma's trip to Milan to face Inter last season as the period when the club's form dipped most severely. "However, the last match we played was on another level entirely," he added. The coach was also quizzed on which player had surprised him most. He highlighted Donyell Malen's goal tally as unexpected: "The number of goals from Malen was something no one could have imagined. For the rest, they have all been very positive surprises." When asked which player he had always wanted to manage but never had the chance to, Gasperini responded with humour to a question about Lionel Messi, laughing at the suggestion. The remarks came amid reports that Paulo Dybala and Nahuel Molina had declined to travel to Messi's farewell international event.

Gian Piero Gasperini spoke to Gazzetta dello Sport about his time at Roma, reflecting on the matches, moments and players that have defined his tenure so far. The most emotionally rewarding fixture, he said, was the recent league match against Verona. "The sensation was of having reached an important milestone, with great satisfaction," Gasperini explained. When asked about his most difficult match, Gasperini pointed to Roma's performance against Inter last season as a period when the team struggled, though he suggested a more recent fixture had presented fresh challenges. On the bright side, the Roma manager identified Donyell Malen's goal tally as the season's major surprise. "It was something nobody could have imagined," Gasperini said of Malen's output. "For the rest, they have all been very positive surprises." Closing the interview, Gasperini was asked which player he would have liked to manage but never had the chance to work with. His answer was unequivocal: Messi. The exchange drew smiles from the interviewer, with Gasperini's reply captured in a video clip shared by the outlet.

Gian Piero Gasperini spoke at the Festival dello Sport on 2 October about the foundations of his Roma project, the character of his squad, and the club's ambitions this season. The coach outlined how he has built the team around a clear playing philosophy focused on taking the ball rather than waiting for opponents, and how he has shaped the personalities of senior players to match that vision. Gasperini praised his defensive line as "one of the best in Europe," highlighting Mario Hermoso and Gianluca Mancini as examples of players with both technical quality and the fighting spirit he demands. He also emphasised Bryan Cristante's importance as a player who sacrifices individual prominence for the collective good. On Paulo Dybala, Gasperini said the Argentine has enjoyed an exceptional start to the season with no injuries disrupting his availability: "He still has the enthusiasm to play football, you can see he is well. There have been years of physical fragility, with injuries that held him back. I always thought it was a training matter... He has remarkable fibre, he started training properly and this start to the season is extraordinary. He doesn't miss a minute." Gasperini suggested Dybala's reluctance to shoot from distance stems from past injuries but believes he will regain that ability soon. On young players, Gasperini explained his approach to developing Emanuele Lulli and Niccolò Pisilli. He brought Lulli into the first team after observing his characteristics in pre-season training. Regarding Gianluca Romano, whom Roma have sold, Gasperini said: "Another young player grown in Roma, very interesting. I was sorry he was excessively criticised after his first Nazionale match, but it is adults who must be more cautious in their judgements. Romano's sale is a capital gain; often societies are forced to sell young players, this is not a good thing. In football the finest jewels must be allowed to grow." On Donyell Malen's arrival and early goal-scoring form, Gasperini explained: "At times planets align and things happen you think are unrealisable. We needed a striker because Dovbyk was injured. There were several names, then I came to know of this opportunity. He was leaving Aston Villa for a tactical reason, he wanted to play as a centre-forward and I have always thought he must play in the penalty area. This his ability to make three very quick touches is his weapon." When asked if Malen could match the 36-goal tallies of Gonzalo Higuaín and Ciro Immobile, Gasperini replied: "I hope so, I've told him that to motivate him... If he reaches 30 goals I would be happy anyway." On Roma's prospects and the atmosphere at the club, Gasperini said: "It was a very positive surprise; outside Rome it is described as an environment that swings back and forth. I found passion and enthusiasm, beautiful but also mature attachment. At this moment the fans are happy and recognise themselves in this squad, then clearly the maximum result would be extraordinary. But the environment is beautiful, there is a desire to play well to enthuse them." He also commented on the new stadium project, saying he had seen the rendering and it was "fantastic" but that the Olimpico in Roma's colours is already "beautiful, though the stands are far from the pitch." Regarding Roma's centenary in 2027, when the first stone of the new stadium will be laid, Gasperini reflected: "A hundred years is a milestone of experience and for me also of emotion. Think of how many people have carried this society forward, how many fans have dedicated their lives to Roma. You must carry all the history without renouncing it, to have an even better future. Roma's second centenary will be even more beautiful than the first."

Massimo Margiotta, Roma's new head of youth development, has outlined his vision for the academy, emphasising that talent must emerge across all roles, not just among players. His first major decision was to appoint Mattia Scala as Primavera coach, rewarding the former's thirteen seasons in Roma's youth structure. Margiotta told the club: "Mattia is someone we know well, with thirteen seasons in Roma's youth development, and has demonstrated quality, competence and capacity for growth. His appointment represents a broader principle: we want our youth sector to be a place where talent emerges in all roles, not just among footballers. Coaches and professionals must be able to grow through a meritocratic pathway, based on quality, passion, competence and a sense of belonging. The Primavera, which represents the highest level of our youth development, must also be the natural expression of this process." Meanwhile, Giuseppe Giannini, Roma's historic captain and club legend, granted an extensive interview to the Gazzetta dello Sport's SportWeek supplement. Asked what it means to be a Roma supporter and symbol of the club in a city like Rome, Giannini reflected: "It is difficult to explain in a few words. It becomes simple to understand when you see someone like me, who has been a point of reference for the fans, stopped in the street for a hug and a photo. Being a Roma supporter also means representing the Capital, and no one, even in the most remote place in the world, can say they don't know the Capital and, consequently, AS Roma." Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini appeared at the Festival dello Sport in Trento, organised by the Gazzetta dello Sport, where he fielded questions about the previous season. On which player had surprised him most, Gasperini said: "Surprised, certainly the number of goals from Malen was something no one could have imagined. For the rest there were many very positive surprises." When asked which player he would have liked to manage but never had the opportunity, he replied with a laugh: "Messi?"

Gian Piero Gasperini spoke at the Festival dello Sport in Trento, hosted by La Gazzetta dello Sport, reflecting on his time at Roma. In an exchange on the club's social media channels, he was asked about defining moments from the previous season and fielded questions on several topics. When asked which match had moved him most since taking charge, Gasperini said: "I would say the last league match against Verona, because there was the feeling of having reached an important milestone and with great satisfaction from the supporters." On the season's most difficult encounter, Gasperini pointed to Roma's trip to Milan to face Inter last season as the period when the club's form dipped most severely. "However, the last match we played was on another level entirely," he added. The coach was also quizzed on which player had surprised him most. He highlighted Donyell Malen's goal tally as unexpected: "The number of goals from Malen was something no one could have imagined. For the rest, they have all been very positive surprises." When asked which player he had always wanted to manage but never had the chance to, Gasperini responded with humour to a question about Lionel Messi, laughing at the suggestion. The remarks came amid reports that Paulo Dybala and Nahuel Molina had declined to travel to Messi's farewell international event.

Gian Piero Gasperini spoke to Gazzetta dello Sport about his time at Roma, reflecting on the matches, moments and players that have defined his tenure so far. The most emotionally rewarding fixture, he said, was the recent league match against Verona. "The sensation was of having reached an important milestone, with great satisfaction," Gasperini explained. When asked about his most difficult match, Gasperini pointed to Roma's performance against Inter last season as a period when the team struggled, though he suggested a more recent fixture had presented fresh challenges. On the bright side, the Roma manager identified Donyell Malen's goal tally as the season's major surprise. "It was something nobody could have imagined," Gasperini said of Malen's output. "For the rest, they have all been very positive surprises." Closing the interview, Gasperini was asked which player he would have liked to manage but never had the chance to work with. His answer was unequivocal: Messi. The exchange drew smiles from the interviewer, with Gasperini's reply captured in a video clip shared by the outlet.