Gasperini: Roma have calm and focus ahead of decisive Champions League match

Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has reviewed his opening months at Roma in a question-and-answer exchange with La Gazzetta dello Sport, identifying the most emotionally significant match, the most difficult fixture and the player who most impressed him. Gasperini named Roma's league match against Verona as the most moving experience since his arrival. "I'd say the last league game against Verona, because the feeling of having reached an important milestone, with great satisfaction from the fans," he said. The reference is to Roma's qualification for the Champions League, which Gasperini regards as one of the highest points of his time at the club. When asked about the hardest match, Gasperini acknowledged that every fixture presents difficulties but singled out Roma's away game at Inter Milan last season as the moment of deepest decline: "They're all difficult. The most difficult was when Roma was at its lowest against Inter in Milan last year. But the last one we played was on another level entirely." On players who have surprised him, Gasperini chose Donyell Malen, whose goalscoring impact has exceeded even the coach's expectations. "Certainly the number of goals Malen has scored is something nobody could have imagined," Gasperini said. "The rest have all been very positive surprises." Gasperini has previously teased Malen about the possibility of approaching Gonzalo Higuaín's Serie A record of 36 goals. When asked which player he would have liked to coach during his career, Gasperini gave a single-word answer: "Messi."

Gian Piero Gasperini has reflected on his time at Roma following an appearance at the Trento Sports Festival organised by La Gazzetta dello Sport. Speaking after a series of questions about the last season, the head coach identified the final league match against Verona as the occasion that moved him most since arriving at the club. "I'd say the last league match against Verona," he explained, "because there was a sense of having reached an important milestone and with great satisfaction from the fans." When asked about his most difficult match, Gasperini pointed to Roma's trip to Inter Milan last season as the moment when the team's form dipped most sharply, though he suggested the most recent fixture represented a different level of challenge altogether. His greatest surprise, however, has come from Donyell Malen's goal tally. "Malen surprised me, certainly the number of goals he scored was something no one could have imagined," Gasperini said. "For the rest there have been lots of very positive surprises." The coach also fielded a lighthearted question about a player he would have liked to manage but never had the opportunity. When asked about Lionel Messi, Gasperini laughed rather than answer directly.

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.