Gasperini: ‘Can’t say’ Roma are UEL favourites, ‘we have difficulty after going ahead’ | OneFootball

Roma head coach Gian Piero Gasperini believes it is too soon to set long-term goals for Roma, but insists that his side are not the ‘favourites’ to win this season’s Europa League, and has also pointed out what he thinks is the biggest flaw in his Giallorossi side: ‘We have difficulty once we take the lead’.

Roma get their Europa League campaign underway on Wednesday evening with an away trip to face Ligue 1 side OGC Nice in the opening round of league phase fixtures.

Roma are coming in off the back of a 1-0 victory over rivals Lazio in the Derby della Capitale in Serie A over the weekend, which leaves them fourth in the league table after three wins from a possible four at the start of the season.

What Gasperini said before Nice vs. Roma

ROME, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 21: Gian Piero Gasperini head coach of AS Roma gestures during the Serie A match between SS Lazio and AS Roma at Stadio Olimpico on September 21, 2025 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Silvia Lore/Getty Images)

All four of Roma’s Serie A matches this season have ended 1-0: Three in favour of the Giallorossi and one which went against them.

During his pre-match press conference on Tuesday evening, Gasperini was asked whether he thinks his side have a problem finding the back of the net.

He replied: “My analysis is that we have difficulty once we take the lead, because apart from against Torino, this team has always scored.

“Maybe the game plan changes and we end up trying to defend a 1-0, rather than looking for another goal that could give us more security. Then the games remain open, in the balance.

“We’ve often had the advantage, but don’t continue to play in the same way. When you are ahead, the conditions for scoring are much easier than when you are behind, or at 0-0.”

ROME, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 21: Lorenzo Pellegrini of AS Roma celebrates the opening goal with his team mates during the Serie A match between SS Lazio and AS Roma at Stadio Olimpico on September 21, 2025 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Marco Rosi – SS Lazio/Getty Images)

Gasperini was also asked whether he sees Roma as one of the favourites to win the Europa League this season/

He replied: “This is a team that’s trying to build, and get there through a different way of playing. We’re making our way. I don’t think it’s possible to say that Roma are the favourites, or to predict what we will do in the league. It’s a team that has to grow, play better, blend together more and more and bring new players into the squad.

“This is a competition that is also very different to the one it was two or three years ago. There’s a ranking, a schedule that is not the same for everyone. Our fixture list is one of the most difficult because we’ll face very strong teams like Stuttgart and Lille at home, and we have some very tricky teams in difficult atmospheres away from home.

ROME, ITALY – AUGUST 23: Wesley Franca of AS Roma (hidden) celebrates scoring his team’s first goal with teammates during the Serie A match between AS Roma and Bologna FC 1909 at Stadio Olimpico on August 23, 2025 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)

“We have to try and pick up points everywhere and take things game by game. Long-term goals need to be set a little further ahead, because there is no point at the moment.”

Gasperini gave a direct response when asked about the condition of star Roma players Paulo Dybala and Leon Bailey: “We’ll see them after the break. Before, I don’t think so.”