Gasperini on Roma revival: ‘Dybala is a poet, Aston Villa didn’t understand Malen’ | OneFootball

Gian Piero Gasperini reveals how he helped Paulo Dybala put Roma injuries behind him and pounced on Aston Villa’s Donyell Malen mistake. ‘Dybala is a poet of football.’

The coach spent nine years with Atalanta, taking them to several Champions League qualifications and winning the Europa League trophy.

His first season at the Stadio Olimpico was one of adaptation, but still managed to secure third place and the club’s return to the Champions League after a seven-year absence.

This campaign has started strong, sitting joint top of the Serie A table with Inter and Lazio, while they earned a 1-1 draw away to Fenerbahce in Europe.

Gasperini took a risk with Roma

ROME, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 19: Gian Piero Gasperini, Manager of AS Roma, looks on before the Serie A match between AS Roma and FC Internazionale at Stadio Olimpico on September 19, 2026 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)

“The first training session was anxiously awaited, because after many years, I was facing a new environment,” said Gasperini at the Festival dello Sport event in Trento.

“The players were eager too, although perhaps they had heard my training sessions were very tough and wanted to be prepared. My only objective in that first season was to create some new and different foundations, based on clear ideas, ones that many of the players weren’t used to.

“The first concept I focus on is that we have to go and get the ball off our opponents, not wait for them to give it away.”

He confessed that leaving Atalanta after nine years at a club where he felt as if he was at home represented “crossing the Rubicon” in his career for a gamble at the Stadio Olimpico.

ISTANBUL, TURKEY – SEPTEMBER 10: Gian Piero Gasperini, Manager of AS Roma, gestures during the UEFA Champions League 2026/27 League Phase MD1 match between Fenerbahce SK and AS Roma at Fenerbahce Sükrü Saracoglu Spor Kompleksi on September 10, 2026 in Istanbul, Turkey. (Photo by Burak Kara/Getty Images)

Gasperini hailed his “gladiators” in defence and reveals he told Gianluca Mancini he had to “change his attitude, because every opponent found him annoying and it held him back from the Italy squad too.”

Roma’s creative core is represented by Paulo Dybala, who is finally finding some form of regular fitness after so many years of injury problems.

“When I arrived, I thought this would be an issue of training. They told me he needed to rest regularly and be preserved, but he kept getting injured. In certain situations, he was truly unlucky, but this season he has been extraordinary and ends with fresher legs than many others.

“This confirms that training is an important component of football and not just a chore. He’s getting better and better, can now kick the ball the way he did before.”

BOLOGNA, ITALY – APRIL 25: Gian Piero Gasperini, Head Coach of AS Roma talks with Paulo Dybala of AS Roma during the Serie A match between Bologna FC 1909 and AS Roma at Renato Dall’Ara Stadium on April 25, 2026 in Bologna, Italy. (Photo by Emmanuele Ciancaglini/Getty Images)

In terms of talent, La Joya is right up there for Gasperini.

“I’ve coached many poets of football in my career, but Dybala is among the top. I worked with the likes of Jeda, Ilicic, Milito, all players I call poets because they have gestures and touches that nobody else does.”

Another player who has found a new level of his career under Gasperini at Roma is Donyell Malen, who arrived from Aston Villa in January.

VERONA, ITALY – MAY 24: Gian Piero Gasperini, Head Coach of AS Roma, interacts with Donyell Malen after being substitued off during the Serie A match between Hellas Verona FC and AS Roma at Stadio Marcantonio Bentegodi on May 24, 2026 in Verona, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)

“Sometimes an unexpected opportunity on the market can transform your plans. There were a few names on the table, suddenly we heard that Aston Villa were selling Malen due to tactical issues.

“He wanted to be a centre-forward, and I always thought that’s where he was stronger too, as he’s deadly near the penalty area. Admittedly, I didn’t expect his numbers to be so astonishing. I told him Gonzalo Higuain scored 36 Serie A goals in a season, but I’d be happy if he got to 30.”