Gian Piero Gasperini, the new head coach for AS Roma, is gearing up for his inaugural Serie A match with the Giallorossi following his summer departure from Atalanta to take the helm in the Italian capital.
Ahead of Saturday evening`s home game against Bologna at the Stadio Olimpico, Gasperini held a press conference where he shared his thoughts, as reported by Corriere dello Sport.
The coach candidly addressed the club`s summer transfer activities, stating:
“I definitely anticipated more, particularly as a new coach who inherently wishes to implement fresh ideas upon arrival. Nevertheless, we`ve effectively collaborated with the existing squad, and additional players have since joined.”
He continued:
“Ideally, we`d all prefer a fully assembled squad, but that seems increasingly unrealistic these days. Initial intentions are always strong, but realizing them takes time and has its own pace, which must be considered.”
Gasperini: `A Very Different Roma. Stronger… I Hope So!`
When questioned about Artem Dovbyk`s future role amidst speculation surrounding the Ukrainian forward, Gasperini responded:
“He`s in the squad for tomorrow`s match, just like everyone else. I don`t possess a crystal ball to foresee the future. Tomorrow marks the season`s commencement, and Dovbyk, along with all selected players, must be entirely focused. We`ll then observe how things unfold over the coming days.”
Elaborating on his striker options, the seasoned manager also touched upon new recruit Evan Ferguson:
“Dovbyk and Ferguson are like two distinct tools; their effective use depends on synchronization. They are both excellent, albeit different, instruments. It appears both are showing improvement, both in terms of movement and physical condition.”
Probed on whether Roma is a stronger side compared to last season, Gasperini remarked:
“That`s something we`ll have to ascertain. This is certainly a vastly different Roma. Reflecting on our last lineup from late May, three starters are gone, alongside six or seven bench players. We`ve brought in five new faces, though one regrettably suffered an immediate injury. Numerically, the squad has also changed. Stronger? I genuinely hope so.”
Gasperini Appreciates New Roma Signings; Focus on the Future
Roma`s summer saw the arrival of several new talents, including Brazilian Wesley, Evan Ferguson, and Leon Bailey. Gasperini expressed satisfaction with these signings, stating:
“These are the individuals the club aims to build its future upon. They are all young, with the oldest being 24. They come with varied experiences; Wesley has 30 games under his belt, while Ferguson has been sidelined for a period. Their situations differ, but I like them. They are skilled players, and I believe we can achieve good results with them.”
Gasperini further elaborated on the Giallorossi`s strategy to acquire younger players, focusing on long-term development:
“The ideal players are those who are talented, possess real value, and show significant potential – they align perfectly with my football philosophy. Our new recruits embody the traits we seek for this fresh start. The objective is to rejuvenate the squad, not with veteran players, but with promising talents who can also yield future capital gains – or as they put it. More accurately, we need to bring in players who offer genuine value for the future of the club.”