Gasperini: ‘Roma huge leap forward with Malen,’ Champions League after 7 years | OneFootball

Gian Piero Gasperini explains how Roma secured their first Champions League qualification in seven years, admitting Donyell Malen’s arrival in January ‘was a huge leap forward.’

The Giallorossi knew that a win at the Stadio Bentegodi would suffice for a top four finish, and it took a while to break that deadlock against a team that was already relegated weeks ago.

Donyell Malen’s penalty was parried, but Paulo Dybala put it back into his path to score on the rebound, then Stephan El Shaarawy sealed it in stoppages with his last match for the club.

Gasperini success in debut Roma season

VERONA, ITALY – MAY 24: Players of AS Roma pose for a photo after winning their match and qualifying for the UEFA Champions League following 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)

“It was a wonderful evening, a difficult one, as Verona have fought hard lately against everyone, and paradoxically we struggled more when they went down to 10 men,” Gasperini told DAZN Italia.

“Perhaps there was tension, the pressure to finish off the game, so we didn’t create many chances, then didn’t take them, leaving the risk that something might happen.”

Roma are back in the Champions League after seven years away, eliminating clubs like Milan and Juventus, as they will be accompanied in the tournament by Como.

Following the heavy defeat to Inter, they had seemed to be in crisis, but then won six of their next seven games.

“From the start, this group worked really hard, you could see they wanted to have a season at the highest level, which was gratifying. We started well, won over some critics, but above all gained credibility with our fans, seeing the stadium always packed,” noted Gasperini.

“It was a difficult season in many ways, but not for the rapport with the crowd, and that was a locomotive powering us on to this result.”

VERONA, ITALY – MAY 24: Gian Piero Gasperini, Head Coach of AS Roma, pose for a photo with his coaching staff after 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)

Roma had not qualified for the Champions League in seven years, so while other coaches insisted they were aiming low, Gasperini always said his target was the top four finish.

“I see the way these lads work, and despite some bad results in the head-to-head matches, we got the feeling we were growing and getting closer.

“Malen obviously gave us a huge leap forward with his arrival, but at the same time we lost Dybala, Soule and Dovbyk to injury, so there were few options in attack.

“We talked amongst ourselves and said that to get into the Champions League, we needed a run of six or seven victories in a row. We had never managed it during the campaign, but we saved it for the right moment.”

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)

Roma and Como enter the Champions League, leaving out clubs like Juventus and Milan.

“I am also truly happy for Como, as they have played wonderful football this season, they set the example and are always a pleasure to watch.”