Roma head into Tuesday evening's Serie A ninth-round clash with Cagliari at the Stadio Olimpico after a dramatic 3-3 draw at Napoli, in which Roma twice hauled themselves level. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini will hold his traditional eve-of-match press conference at 13:30 to address the squad's condition, Cagliari's threat and the recovery of injured players Svilar, Koné and Dybala, with the latter possibly returning to the matchday squad.
Gasperini gave an update on the injury list and rotation. To Sky Sport he said: "Is there any recovery and do you plan rotations? The only possible one is Dybala, we'll try this afternoon, maybe I can take him on the bench, I'm confident. Rotations? I'll decide today, probably yes. We have a squad that can rotate very well." On Roma's recent results, the Napoli draw followed three draws with Como, Napoli and Inter, and Gasperini told Manà Manà Sport: "Three different games but beautiful games, very balanced. We came out well from all three, nothing less than our opponents, and it's clear they are among our most direct rivals. It's true we didn't win, but neither did they. We didn't take that extra step by winning one, but it is still a positive step."
On Napoli, Gasperini told RadioRadio: "These are balanced games. We got the chance to go ahead, then you play on the moment, on quality. Then we found ourselves behind at Napoli, then we thought we could win, then behind again, so these games change quickly. We have to look at the 90 minutes, and in the 90 minutes we had difficulty because of the quality of our opponents, but overall we come out well, aware we played on level terms with these very strong teams." He also spoke of Soulé, telling Il Messaggero: "Unfortunately he had a period out with a groin problem, but this year he has picked up where he left off. Twenty-three years old, sometimes we forget that, he has room for maturity, and what he is doing this year, in several roles, he is gaining confidence and security in his game. He loses far fewer balls. He works well, and he has been called up by Argentina, another good sign."
On injuries, Gasperini told TeleRadioStereo: "Koné is unlikely before the international break. Svilar could return this week, on Thursday or Friday, with some doubt, or next week. For Manchester it would be the maximum, or maybe Sassuolo." He added to RadioBruno: "In this period we have faced a spell with Svilar out, Cristante, Dybala, Koné and Pellegrini. Thankfully we are holding up and getting results. It's clear that when you are at full strength you are stronger, but injuries happen to everyone, and we play every three days, there's little to be done."
Gasperini also addressed the defence, saying to Sportitalia: "Somewhat of everything. Today with five substitutions, which is a lot, it can happen that we change defenders. Opponents also bring on very strong players, so a change at defender is needed. We have a good attacking tendency to score in the air with defenders, which is part of finding solutions, not only from set pieces." On Lulli, he told Il Tempo: "Just situations, where we have players who are doing well. Rensch, Wesley... also Molina. Lulli, I'm happy for him, he deserves it. Everyone's aim is to improve individually, and through that we can become stronger."
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AS Roma coach Gian Piero Gasperini will hold his eve-of-match press conference on Tuesday at 13:30, ahead of the Serie A ninth-round clash with Cagliari at the Stadio Olimpico that evening. The briefing follows a dramatic 3-3 draw away at Napoli, in which Roma twice came from behind to rescue a point. Forza Roma notes that Gasperini missed the press conference before the Napoli trip and is now returning to the media.
The outlets differ on the fitness picture. Roma News says Paulo Dybala could be back in the matchday squad and that Gasperini will address the recovery progress of Mile Svilar, Manu Koné and Dybala. Forza Roma reports that Dybala is in good spirits after training partially with the group, but says Koné, Svilar and Lorenzo Pellegrini are ruled out. Roma News does not mention Pellegrini among the injured players.
Forza Roma adds that Rodrigo Mora could be handed a starting place, playing behind Donyell Malen in a partnership with Matías Soulé. Roma News makes no mention of this selection detail, but says Dybala's possible return would be a boost for the attack. Gasperini's briefing will give supporters the first official update on the squad's fitness before the midweek home fixture, and the availability of Svilar and Koné will be closely watched as the coach finalises his team.
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