Gasperini on Malen's rest against Cagliari: fixture schedule behind the decision, opportunity for fringe players

Roma coach Gian Piero Gasperini has said that knocks are normal given the number of matches the club is playing, as the team prepares for the Serie A ninth-round fixture against Cagliari. Gasperini addressed the media ahead of the match, which is part of the league's ninth matchday. Gasperini said that the league is made up of games like the one against Napoli and against sides such as Cagliari, where the difficulties are different but not necessarily fewer. He acknowledged that playing matches so close together brings knocks. "It is clearly the case that playing matches so close together brings knocks," he said. "It is not the same as playing once a week, but it is also the way to give confidence to everyone and show that we have a competitive squad." On Cagliari, Gasperini said he expects a side that stays proactive and is always ready to relaunch play down the flanks. He singled out Nzola and Fadera as two players Roma must watch closely. "So it will be a match in which we will have to play with great quality but also with lucidity," he said. Gasperini also spoke about Santiago Castro, who he said currently gives ample guarantees, meaning Donyell Malen could even start on the bench. He explained that this was tied to the schedule and to the fact that Castro played two matches ago and was decisive. "In such a crowded schedule we need to keep all the players at their best," he said.

Roma head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has spoken to Dazn ahead of the clash with Cagliari, admitting that the tight run of matches is taking a physical toll on his squad. Gasperini said: "Sicuramente tutte le partite hanno difficoltà, diverse ma ci sono. È chiaro che giocare così ravvicinati genera acciacchi e strascichi. Non è la stessa cosa di giocare una volta a settimana. Però può dare fiducia ai giocatori, anche a quelli che giocano di meno. È una opportunità per loro." ("Every match brings difficulties, different ones, but they are there. It is clear that playing such closely spaced games creates knocks and aftereffects. It is not the same as playing once a week. However, it can give confidence to the players, even to those who play less. It is an opportunity for them.") Gasperini was asked whether today's fixture resembles the recent Genoa match and whether it is a chance to prove Roma are a great side. He expects Cagliari to be ready to push forward quickly, with their wide players and attack in the forefront of their game. He warned his side to be careful of Nzola and Fadera, noting that Cagliari have important substitutes. Roma, he said, must play with quality and tempo. Asked about leaving Donyell Malen out, which had seemed unthinkable, Gasperini said the decision was dictated by the schedule. He pointed to Santiago Castro, who played two matches ago and was decisive. Gasperini said: "È figlia del calendario questa scelta. E poi castro ha giocato due partite fa ed è stato determinante. In un calendario così fitto dobbiamo avere tutti i giocatori al meglio, non solo Malen." ("This choice is the child of the calendar. And besides, Castro played two matches ago and was decisive. In such a packed schedule we must have all our players at their best, not just Malen.")

Pierluigi Gollini has said Roma know exactly what they need to do against Cagliari, with the Giallorossi facing a tough test in their ninth Serie A match of the season. Speaking ahead of the fixture, the goalkeeper acknowledged the demanding schedule and the absences the squad has been dealing with. Gollini admitted the team has been playing a lot of football, as have other sides involved in cup competitions. He stressed that the squad had expected a demanding period. The Napoli game is now behind them, and he insisted the team cannot dwell on the previous match. Asked whether the squad was tired given the many commitments and absences, Gollini said: "Surely we are playing a lot, as the others who are in the cups are also playing a lot. We knew it would be a demanding period. Napoli we have put behind us, you cannot stay on the previous match. We know that tonight we face a tough team and we know what we have to do." The fixture against Cagliari is set for tonight.

Roma coach Gian Piero Gasperini has said that knocks are normal given the number of matches the club is playing, as the team prepares for the Serie A ninth-round fixture against Cagliari. Gasperini addressed the media ahead of the match, which is part of the league's ninth matchday. Gasperini said that the league is made up of games like the one against Napoli and against sides such as Cagliari, where the difficulties are different but not necessarily fewer. He acknowledged that playing matches so close together brings knocks. "It is clearly the case that playing matches so close together brings knocks," he said. "It is not the same as playing once a week, but it is also the way to give confidence to everyone and show that we have a competitive squad." On Cagliari, Gasperini said he expects a side that stays proactive and is always ready to relaunch play down the flanks. He singled out Nzola and Fadera as two players Roma must watch closely. "So it will be a match in which we will have to play with great quality but also with lucidity," he said. Gasperini also spoke about Santiago Castro, who he said currently gives ample guarantees, meaning Donyell Malen could even start on the bench. He explained that this was tied to the schedule and to the fact that Castro played two matches ago and was decisive. "In such a crowded schedule we need to keep all the players at their best," he said.

Roma head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has spoken to Dazn ahead of the clash with Cagliari, admitting that the tight run of matches is taking a physical toll on his squad. Gasperini said: "Sicuramente tutte le partite hanno difficoltà, diverse ma ci sono. È chiaro che giocare così ravvicinati genera acciacchi e strascichi. Non è la stessa cosa di giocare una volta a settimana. Però può dare fiducia ai giocatori, anche a quelli che giocano di meno. È una opportunità per loro." ("Every match brings difficulties, different ones, but they are there. It is clear that playing such closely spaced games creates knocks and aftereffects. It is not the same as playing once a week. However, it can give confidence to the players, even to those who play less. It is an opportunity for them.") Gasperini was asked whether today's fixture resembles the recent Genoa match and whether it is a chance to prove Roma are a great side. He expects Cagliari to be ready to push forward quickly, with their wide players and attack in the forefront of their game. He warned his side to be careful of Nzola and Fadera, noting that Cagliari have important substitutes. Roma, he said, must play with quality and tempo. Asked about leaving Donyell Malen out, which had seemed unthinkable, Gasperini said the decision was dictated by the schedule. He pointed to Santiago Castro, who played two matches ago and was decisive. Gasperini said: "È figlia del calendario questa scelta. E poi castro ha giocato due partite fa ed è stato determinante. In un calendario così fitto dobbiamo avere tutti i giocatori al meglio, non solo Malen." ("This choice is the child of the calendar. And besides, Castro played two matches ago and was decisive. In such a packed schedule we must have all our players at their best, not just Malen.")

Roma return to the Stadio Olimpico to face Cagliari, coached by Pisacane, after the 1-1 draw at Napoli. Gasperini has made some changes for the match. Cagliari have had a strong start to the league season but come into the game on the back of two heavy defeats, against Monza and Bologna. Roma line up in a 3-4-2-1 formation: Gollini; Mancini, N'Dicka, Koulierakis; Lulli, De Roon, Pisilli, Molina; Soulé, Cristante; Castro. Balerdi, who scored a brace at the Maradona in Naples, is among the substitutes, alongside Vásquez, De Marzi, Rensch, Ghilardi, Mora, Wesley, Hermoso, Malen, Arena and Camara. Gasperini is in charge. Cagliari set up in a 5-4-1 formation: Caprile; Ze Pedro, Sugawara, Mina, Rodriguez, Obert; Romano, Deiola; Adopo, Fadera; Nzola. Their substitutes are Sherri, Radunovic, Kofler, Aurelio, Liteta, Sulev, Fazzini, Gagliardini, Ciervo, Maldini, Carlos, Mendy and Trepy. Pisacane is the Cagliari coach.

Roma coach Gian Piero Gasperini has said that knocks are normal given the number of matches the club is playing, as the team prepares for the Serie A ninth-round fixture against Cagliari. Gasperini addressed the media ahead of the match, which is part of the league's ninth matchday. Gasperini said that the league is made up of games like the one against Napoli and against sides such as Cagliari, where the difficulties are different but not necessarily fewer. He acknowledged that playing matches so close together brings knocks. "It is clearly the case that playing matches so close together brings knocks," he said. "It is not the same as playing once a week, but it is also the way to give confidence to everyone and show that we have a competitive squad." On Cagliari, Gasperini said he expects a side that stays proactive and is always ready to relaunch play down the flanks. He singled out Nzola and Fadera as two players Roma must watch closely. "So it will be a match in which we will have to play with great quality but also with lucidity," he said. Gasperini also spoke about Santiago Castro, who he said currently gives ample guarantees, meaning Donyell Malen could even start on the bench. He explained that this was tied to the schedule and to the fact that Castro played two matches ago and was decisive. "In such a crowded schedule we need to keep all the players at their best," he said.

Roma head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has spoken to Dazn ahead of the clash with Cagliari, admitting that the tight run of matches is taking a physical toll on his squad. Gasperini said: "Sicuramente tutte le partite hanno difficoltà, diverse ma ci sono. È chiaro che giocare così ravvicinati genera acciacchi e strascichi. Non è la stessa cosa di giocare una volta a settimana. Però può dare fiducia ai giocatori, anche a quelli che giocano di meno. È una opportunità per loro." ("Every match brings difficulties, different ones, but they are there. It is clear that playing such closely spaced games creates knocks and aftereffects. It is not the same as playing once a week. However, it can give confidence to the players, even to those who play less. It is an opportunity for them.") Gasperini was asked whether today's fixture resembles the recent Genoa match and whether it is a chance to prove Roma are a great side. He expects Cagliari to be ready to push forward quickly, with their wide players and attack in the forefront of their game. He warned his side to be careful of Nzola and Fadera, noting that Cagliari have important substitutes. Roma, he said, must play with quality and tempo. Asked about leaving Donyell Malen out, which had seemed unthinkable, Gasperini said the decision was dictated by the schedule. He pointed to Santiago Castro, who played two matches ago and was decisive. Gasperini said: "È figlia del calendario questa scelta. E poi castro ha giocato due partite fa ed è stato determinante. In un calendario così fitto dobbiamo avere tutti i giocatori al meglio, non solo Malen." ("This choice is the child of the calendar. And besides, Castro played two matches ago and was decisive. In such a packed schedule we must have all our players at their best, not just Malen.")

Roma return to the Stadio Olimpico to face Cagliari, coached by Pisacane, after the 1-1 draw at Napoli. Gasperini has made some changes for the match. Cagliari have had a strong start to the league season but come into the game on the back of two heavy defeats, against Monza and Bologna. Roma line up in a 3-4-2-1 formation: Gollini; Mancini, N'Dicka, Koulierakis; Lulli, De Roon, Pisilli, Molina; Soulé, Cristante; Castro. Balerdi, who scored a brace at the Maradona in Naples, is among the substitutes, alongside Vásquez, De Marzi, Rensch, Ghilardi, Mora, Wesley, Hermoso, Malen, Arena and Camara. Gasperini is in charge. Cagliari set up in a 5-4-1 formation: Caprile; Ze Pedro, Sugawara, Mina, Rodriguez, Obert; Romano, Deiola; Adopo, Fadera; Nzola. Their substitutes are Sherri, Radunovic, Kofler, Aurelio, Liteta, Sulev, Fazzini, Gagliardini, Ciervo, Maldini, Carlos, Mendy and Trepy. Pisacane is the Cagliari coach.