Gasperini quotes legendary Italian coach as Roma objective remains ‘far from certain’ | OneFootball

Gian Piero Gasperini insists that Roma’s Champions League qualification is still ‘far from certain’ with one last game remaining and mentions the legendary Nereo Rocco: ‘Give me a goalkeeper who makes saves and a centre-forward who scores goals…’

Roma visit already-relegated Hellas Verona tomorrow, Sunday, May 24, in the final game of the Serie A season.

The Giallorossi sit fourth in the standings, level on points with Milan, and two points below fifth-placed Como and Juventus.

France international Manu Koné missed last week’s derby against Lazio, but will join the team in Verona.

Verona vs. Roma: Gasperini’s press conference

BOLOGNA, ITALY – APRIL 25: Gian Piero Gasperini, Head Coach of AS Roma looks on 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)

“Koné has recovered. He’s been training all week, and he’s not 100%, but he’s definitely available,” Gasperini said at a press conference via Sky Sport Italia.

“We’ll see if he starts or is introduced later on. Temperatures have changed, the heat is affecting, but so is the anticipation. You need to be ready at the right time.”

Roma last played in the Champions League during the 2018-19 campaign and are now just one victory away from securing a top-four finish in Gasperini’s first season in charge.

“It wasn’t an easy campaign. I definitely brought my method, and I was lucky enough to find this group,” the coach said.

“I was credible towards them. That was the secret. We found common feelings and goals. Now we want to crown a result that, at times, we didn’t believe we could achieve either.”

Gasperini was asked if club owners will be closer to the team in the future, spending more time in Rome.

“It’s a commitment I’ve tried to develop as much as possible, because I think the presence of ownership is fundamental,” Gasperini said.

“Their presence can also help avoid unpleasant situations in the work environment and give strength to everyone. Their greater presence compacts everything and everyone.

“The Champions League is important for clubs from an economic perspective. And the economic aspect allows you to improve the team in both market spending and player appeal,” Gasp continued.

“And then the emotional aspect: being part of the European elite gratifies you.

“There’s satisfaction with what we’ve done so far, but what matters is the final result. Those who win celebrate, those who don’t tell the story. Well, we don’t want to be the ones telling the story.

“Verona have already been relegated, but we know they have done well recently, and that the objective is far from certain.”

Gasperini has gained increasing power over the club’s decisions following Claudio Ranieri’s departure in April, a move expected to be followed by Frederic Massara’s exit.

“Things have always been done in good faith; then, clearly, there are always mistakes, but from these, you learn,” Gasperini said.

“Mistakes are never failures, also because if you don’t make mistakes, you don’t learn.”

Mile Svilar has been named the best Serie A goalkeeper in 2025-26, for the second season in a row, while January signing Donyell Malen has scored 13 goals in 17 Serie A appearances, so Gasperini ended his press conference with a smile: “Somebody once said, give me a goalkeeper who makes saves and a centre-forward who scores goals, and I’ll deal with it. He was a great coach [Nereo Rocco]. Now I have both, and you can see it.”