Roma, Gasperini: We must be clinical, Dybala fit to play | OneFootball

On the eve of the 3:00 PM match against Sassuolo, Gian Piero Gasperini spoke to Roma's official channels in a press conference. Here's how he addressed his players.

Roma, Gasperini: "Dybala? I didn't like his statements, but he has clarified! Ferguson needs time"

The Roma coach expressed himself regarding the approach in recent games: "Sometimes there are periods like this, other times we were the ones taking the lead. However, taking the Florence match as an example, we managed to turn it around. I must say that, sticking to these last two games, we conceded two really bad goals. But, especially against Inter, we had all the reaction we needed to have. We weren't very lucky. The other night we probably should have done more, even though the team's reaction was there and was clearly visible. As already with Inter, we played a definitely positive second half, demonstrating that we are better physically."

On Dybala: "Did his statements bother me? Yes, also because I didn't consider them absolutely true and fair. But then he clarified with all the other guys by talking in the locker room. Sometimes, especially at the end of a match, words may not truly represent what one intends to say. But the sense of the discussion was quite clear. Dybala is fine, he can play. From what I see, he has good endurance, good stamina, like all top-level players. The only issue is that he is well, that he has no physical problems. When he's well, even technically he has no difficulties. He also needs to start occupying the area, scoring goals, making assists: these are the important things because he is a forward, he doesn't need to play in midfield like midfielders do. He is a player who can also start from further back, perhaps in disengagement or in the reaction phase, but he is essentially a forward. He is a player who is valuable when he scores goals, when he provides assists, when he creates threats, when he attacks the goal, when he shoots on goal. And now he's well, very well, and this is something that gives me hope."

On Ferguson: "To tell the truth, yesterday for the first time this season I saw a proper training session from him. He's a 21-year-old who doesn't come from extraordinary leagues, he comes from a context where he has hardly ever played, and in this period he has played more than in the entire last season. Probably, in another league, in another country, in another dimension, such young guys can go through very low performance periods. But you must always be ready to trust them and wait for them to have a reaction. If you then ask me for explanations, you can't always explain everything: you wait, you work, you do, and the answers must come from the field, not from anything else. Regarding playing with or without a center forward, I don't interpret football thinking that the number nine must necessarily be tall or big: you can play in many ways. The important thing is to find effectiveness."

On defense: "In many changes, you have to consider that we are playing many matches, one after the other, and in the end, who has really played? Ziolkowski played half an hour the other night and a few minutes at the end against Inter. But we are playing every three days, and when you make a change in defense, it's already a lot. For the rest, I have always fielded Çelik, Hermoso, Mancini, Ndicka. We have been playing for quite a few matches, so sometimes you need to break, let someone catch their breath. Wesley played very well on the left against Inter, as did Çelik on the other side. He managed all these role changes, he played as an external both on the right and on the left: he's a right-footer who played on the left, as often happens. Wesley played two excellent matches, both the other night and against Inter. The only thing that matters, and that must be evaluated, is precisely this. Even playing every three days, you can change something, but you can't always revolutionize the team."

On the boos: "A player, as long as he wears the Roma jersey, must be supported. From my side, it's like this. Boos and applause are related to performances, but from my side, he must be supported anyway. I have always pushed everyone, I have always carried everyone forward. A player here must know how to react after a negative performance and continue to work when things are going well. The goal is always and only to grow and improve. We are still in an initial phase, and I believe that, compared to other teams, at this moment we have good margins to do something better. It's a difficult league, so we can only improve."

Raffaele Morra

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