Roma coach brushes off pressure talk, revisits refereeing controversy, and opens the door to a Totti return
On the eve of Roma’s clash with Cremonese, Gian Piero Gasperini delivered one of his most direct press conferences of the season at Trigoria. No filters, no hesitation — just clear objectives.
“For me, there is nothing other than the Champions League,” Gasperini said. “If someone thinks they can put pressure on me, they’re making a big mistake. I’ve been the one talking about this goal since day one.”
With Roma currently sitting in a top-four position, Gasperini made it clear that qualification for Europe’s elite competition isn’t external pressure — it’s the mission.
“I left the Champions League in Bergamo, and I miss it,” he added. “To finish fourth, you have to beat strong teams. I came here to build something strong.”
On the Bastoni–Kalulu Incident: “It Wasn’t the Only One”
Gasperini also revisited the refereeing debate that has dominated Italian football this week, including the controversial episode between Alessandro Bastoni and Kalulu.
“That episode wasn’t unique,” Gasperini said. “There were at least a couple of others. The issue is interpretation. Simulation, handballs, contact — the rules are applied differently every week. It ends up being everything and its opposite.”
The Roma coach reiterated his broader concern about the direction of the modern game. “Football is a contact sport. If you remove too much, I like it much less.”
Focus on Cremonese — But No Dybala or Soulé
Turning to the match itself, Gasperini stressed urgency.
“If the league ended today, we’d be rewarded. And we don’t want to drop from there,” he said. “Points weigh more now. We have very strong motivation.”
Roma will be without Paulo Dybala and Soulé, both sidelined. “Dybala is working hard to recover, but he won’t be available. Soulé has been out all week.”
Gasperini also addressed squad rotation concerns with key players like Mancini and N’Dicka at risk of suspension but made it clear: “Tomorrow’s three points are fundamental. We can’t look beyond this game.”
Malen’s Immediate Impact
One player who has adapted quickly is Donyell Malen.
“Our league is very difficult,” Gasperini said. “In his role, he’s decisive. He was at Aston Villa, he plays for the Netherlands. I told him he would play as a striker here, and he wanted that. That motivation made the difference.”
Totti? “A Great Resource”
Finally, Gasperini addressed speculation surrounding a possible involvement of Francesco Totti with the club.
Smiling, he chose his words carefully. “So much noise… If we had simply gone to dinner, nobody would have said anything. For me, he would be a great — truly great — resource. A beautiful opportunity.”
The message is clear: Gasperini wants Roma back among Europe’s elite, and he isn’t afraid of the expectations that come with it. In fact, he’s the one demanding them.
