After Roma’s convincing win over Cagliari, Gasperini praises character, defense, and Donyell Malen: “This team always reacts. If we improve up front, we can raise the level even more.”
After Roma’s strong performance against Cagliari, Gian Piero Gasperini did not hide his satisfaction. Speaking first to Sky Sport, then to DAZN, and finally in the post-match press conference at the Stadio Olimpico, the Roma coach delivered a series of clear, confident messages — about his team’s growth, their Champions League ambitions, and their readiness to challenge Serie A’s biggest clubs.
“This team always reacts”
Gasperini opened his analysis on Sky Sport by focusing on mentality and performance:
“We played a very good match, especially in the first half. This team always reacts — they came onto the pitch with character and wanted to respond after the loss in Udine.”
He admitted Roma could have closed the match earlier, but still liked what he saw over the full 90 minutes:
“It’s a shame we didn’t score one more goal before halftime, because we left the game open. But I liked the second half as well — the team showed a good level.”
Malen compared to Vialli
Much of the spotlight was on Donyell Malen, decisive once again. Gasperini showed absolute conviction in the Dutch forward:
“I’m convinced Malen will score many more goals. We need to support him properly and serve him with quality. He has characteristics that are very difficult to contain.”
Asked who Malen reminds him of, Gasperini went straight to a legendary comparison:
“He has Vialli’s power and ability to get free with his movement. In terms of movement, he’s similar. Van Basten was more physical, but Malen’s runs are exceptional.”
Speaking to DAZN, Gasperini doubled down:
“I have no doubts about him. We realized his potential immediately in the very first training sessions. I told him he can score a lot in this league because he has the right characteristics.”
“He’s a very complete attacker: he attacks space, comes short, has speed, technique. If we put him in the right conditions, the whole team benefits.”
Defense as Roma’s foundation
In the press conference, Gasperini highlighted what he considers Roma’s biggest strength this season:
“In terms of numbers, I’ve never had a defense this strong. This has been the foundation of our team so far.”
But he also made it clear where the next step lies:
“If we improve offensively, we can raise the level even more. Statistics show that whoever scores more goals wins — and we already have a good average.”
Champions League race: “This is a marathon”
Gasperini did not shy away from the bigger picture. Roma are now close to Juventus, Napoli, and Milan — and the coach embraced the challenge:
“We’ve caught Juventus and we’re close to Napoli and Milan. They all have great attacks. Even teams like Como and Atalanta are strong. It’s never easy.”
Looking ahead, he framed the Champions League race as a test of endurance:
“If we have the strength and the chance to reach the Champions League, it will probably go down to the last matchday.”
“This is a marathon, not something you achieve in a moment. You need character, you need to overcome difficult moments and defeats.”
On VAR and a ‘perfect match’
One surprising highlight of the evening was the absence of VAR interventions — something Gasperini openly welcomed:
“There wasn’t a single VAR intervention today — fantastic. It means everything flowed naturally and the referee saw every episode. It was a perfect match.”
The message is clear
From tactical analysis to long-term ambition, Gasperini’s words carried a consistent theme: belief. Roma are growing, Roma are solid, and Roma are not afraid of anyone.
As Gasperini himself made clear across Sky Sport, DAZN, and the press room at the Olimpico, the message to Serie A’s heavyweights is unmistakable:
Roma are ready.
