Roma, Gasperini on injuries: “Dybala, Bailey’s fitness comes first” | OneFootball

On the eve of the Europa League challenge against Midtjylland, Gian Piero Gasperini outlined a clear and realistic picture of the condition of his Roma.

Roma, Gasperini between recoveries and emergencies: “Dybala and Bailey? First of all, they need to be well”

In a press conference, the coach addressed the topic of the recoveries of Paulo Dybala and Leon Bailey, two key elements of the offensive department, as well as the issue of the imminent departures of Ndicka and El Aynaoui in view of the Africa Cup of Nations.

The coach's words highlight a moment of transition: the team is recovering important pieces but, at the same time, is preparing to do without two starters for several weeks.

Dybala and Bailey towards the call-up: “First of all, they must have overcome the injury”

Gasperini adopted a cautious but positive approach regarding the possible use of the two forwards: “Dybala and Bailey? The important thing is that they are healed and have overcome the injury. Yesterday they had their first training with the group and today they will have the second. If everything goes well, they will be available.”

The choice of words is not accidental. The coach prioritizes physical condition over the urgency of the result: no forcing, no pressure on playing time. “Playing time is relative: what matters is that they are well and have fully recovered,” he clarified.

Dybala represents the creative core of the team, Bailey the external outlet capable of overturning the inertia of matches. Their presence, even just on the bench, could have an important psychological impact, as well as a technical one.

Ndicka and El Aynaoui towards the Africa Cup of Nations: the Europa League affects logistics

While there is good news on the injury front, on the other hand, Gasperini has to deal with two certain absences starting from early January. Ndicka and El Aynaoui, both engaged in the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations, will be unavailable for an extended period.

Gasperini explained the situation: “Ndicka and El Aynaoui should leave a week before the start of the Africa Cup of Nations. It is possible that they will not be available against Como. We need to evaluate the situation for the following week because we have the Europa League.”

The coach highlights a point often underestimated: the duration of the African tournament. “Morocco and Ivory Coast are destined to advance. We don’t jinx them, but I think the players will be missing for quite some time.”

The problem is not only the quantity of absentees but also their strategic weight. Ndicka is one of the defensive pillars of Roma, while El Aynaoui has quickly gained a crucial role in the midfield rotations.

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Gasperini’s message is clear: Roma will have to make the best use of the squad's depth during the most intense period of the season. “We will use our resources to make up for the absence,” declared the coach, hinting that it will be necessary to reorganize some tactical mechanisms.

Without two starters and with two players just returning, the coach faces a double challenge: completing the recovery of the injured without risking relapses and, at the same time, recalibrating the setup in view of the matches preceding the winter break.

The match against Midtjylland thus becomes a crossroads: a physical test, a tactical verification, and an opportunity to consolidate the European path.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇮🇹 here.