Gian Piero Gasperini held a press conference before and after Roma's Serie A match against Torino on 14 September, discussing the partnership between Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen, the performance of Leonardo Balerdi in defence, and the demands of the upcoming fixture against Inter.
On Dybala and Malen, who formed their partnership eight months earlier, Gasperini said: "The satisfaction is there from everyone, and it's beautiful for fans and those who love football to see two champions who manage to create practically every match situations where goals can be scored, dangerous situations. Beyond being strong individually they complete each other greatly, they have important connections that they manage to turn into goals." He explained the decision to substitute Malen during the match as part of squad rotation, noting that attackers who play the full 90 minutes every time cannot repeat their performances across multiple games in a week. "If we can spare 20–30 minutes they can play more matches in a week," he said. Gasperini added that younger players must learn from champions like Malen and Dybala not just technically but in temperament and determination: "If we manage to do this, the squad becomes stronger."
On Balerdi's performance, Gasperini compared him favourably to one of Italian football's greatest defenders, saying: "A strong defender, very strong. He is certainly a modern defender, strong physically and quick. I can't invoke any name — a central defender like that was Baresi. But without going to invoke him, for how he interprets the role with aggression and speed in recoveries plus participation in play… Baresi was number 1 absolutely, nobody touches him, but as characteristics we are similar." He later added: "He made an extraordinary recovery with speed, he saved a difficult situation. We know we have taken a beautiful player." On the Rome-Inter fixture ahead, Gasperini noted that last season Roma had lost heavily on the return leg but improved significantly afterward: "There was an escalation, not only of results but also of attitudes, behaviour and mentality. Inter is the reference team of our championship for everyone, it's a strong team and rightly indicated as the strongest. Although in my opinion Como are very close to them. It's an opportunity for us too to measure ourselves and do better than the last matches."
Gasperini confirmed squad absences for the Torino match: Wesley had suffered a heavy blow in the previous fixture and had not yet fully recovered, while Evan N'Dicka had suffered a bout of flu that night and did not travel to the stadium. He described Santiago Castro's development positively, stating: "Castro is doing very well in all situations in which he is engaged. Compared to the start he is in good condition. We all expect a lot from him but we are very convinced because he is a boy who deserves it and who has great qualities."
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Gian Piero Gasperini has praised the partnership between Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen following Roma's victory at Torino, highlighting their ability to create dangerous situations and score decisive goals. Gasperini described the pair as "two champions" who "complete each other greatly" and possess "important connections that they manage to turn into goals." Both outlets quote the coach emphasizing how their individual quality combines with perfect mutual understanding. The decision to substitute Malen during the match was deliberate squad rotation, with Gasperini explaining that attackers cannot sustain peak performances across multiple games weekly if they play full 90-minute stretches consistently. GialloRossi.net reports his view that sparing attackers 20–30 minutes per match allows them to repeat their performances across fixtures, while younger players must learn temperament and determination from established champions like Malen and Dybala.
Gasperini also drew attention to Leonardo Balerdi's defensive display, making a striking comparison to Franco Baresi. GialloRossi.net captures the full context of this praise, with Gasperini describing Balerdi as "certainly a modern defender, strong physically and quick" before noting the similarity to Baresi's interpretation of the role "with aggression and speed in recoveries plus participation in play." He highlighted an "extraordinary recovery with speed" that saved a difficult situation and called Balerdi "a beautiful player."
Roma now face Inter on Saturday at the Olimpico. Gasperini acknowledged Inter as "the strongest" team in the league, though GialloRossi.net notes he considers Como "very close to them." He framed the fixture as an opportunity to measure Roma's development and improvement in mentality since last season's heavy defeat in the return leg against Inter.
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Testo Originale / Source Text
“Gian Piero Gasperini interviene ai microfoni dei giornalisti in occasione di Torino-Roma, gara valida per la quarta giornata di Serie A. Queste le dichiarazioni del tecnico giallorosso nel prepartita e poi al termine della sfida dello Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino.
La Dybalen è nata proprio qui 8…”
Read the full article in Italian at GialloRossi.net.