On the eve of Roma’s trip to Bergamo, the Giallorossi coach reflects on his Atalanta past, squad fitness, the transfer market, and his growing bond with the locker room
AS Roma are looking to start 2026 on the right foot as they continue their push toward the top end of the Serie A table. Tomorrow night at 8:45 PM local time, Roma face Atalanta at the Gewiss Stadium in a highly charged matchup — a special occasion for head coach Gian Piero Gasperini, who returns to Bergamo as an opponent after nine defining years.
Speaking from Trigoria in his pre-match press conference, Gasperini addressed fitness concerns, his emotional return, and Roma’s ambitions moving forward.
Squad Updates and Injury News
Roma arrive in Bergamo with several absences, but also some encouraging signs. “Pellegrini and Bailey are injured,” Gasperini confirmed. “Pisilli also had an issue, but he should recover. Hermoso is fit. Wesley has some minor problems, so we’ll evaluate.”
Later in the day, Roma released their official squad list, confirming that Mario Hermoso, Wesley, and Niccolò Pisilli are all available. Tommaso Baldanzi, however, was ruled out after suffering a right femoral muscle injury in the final training session.
Returning to Bergamo
Gasperini did not hide his emotions about facing Atalanta again. “I’m happy to go back,” he said. “Nine years is a long time. It was an incredible story built with president Antonio Percassi. We kept growing, year after year, with different squads, always improving.”
He added: “Atalanta became a strong, financially solid club that achieved extraordinary results. Maybe that constant growth even bothered some people. I tried to leave the team as high as possible, with great value. Now I’m happy to be at Roma, even if it looked like the most difficult challenge.”
Market Talk and Roma’s Long-Term Vision
Asked about January reinforcements and rumors surrounding Giacomo Raspadori, Gasperini was measured. “Roma’s goal is to become stronger, but only by adding players who truly bring value. Not signings for the sake of it. This is a strange market — top clubs are very active because every competition is still wide open.”
He stressed patience: “January signings rarely arrive in perfect condition. This squad already exists and has done very well. No one player changes everything overnight. My vision is to make Roma stronger over time.”
Leadership, Dybala, and Belief
On a personal level, Gasperini addressed his journey in Rome. “I hope I haven’t changed. What matters most is that I’ve connected with this locker room. Removing the initial skepticism was important. Professionally, this is a challenge that motivates me enormously.”
He also clarified the role of Paulo Dybala: “I like him closer to goal. He can help everywhere, but Dybala is decisive when he scores, assists, and takes set pieces.”
A Crucial Test
Roma face an Atalanta side missing key players but still considered Champions League caliber. Gasperini remains confident: “We trust what we’re doing, even in emergency situations. We’ve earned that confidence on the pitch.”
Kickoff in Bergamo will be more than just another league match. For Gasperini and Roma, it’s a test that blends past, present, and ambition — with no room for hesitation.
