Gian Piero Gasperini, the head coach of Roma, has unequivocally stated his expectation for a decisive win against archrivals Lazio in Sunday’s Derby della Capitale. His sentiment is clear: “The derbies you remember are the ones you win.” This crucial Serie A encounter will unfold at the Stadio Olimpico.
The first Derby della Capitale of the 2025-26 season is scheduled for an early kick-off at 11:30 BST.
Gasperini on the Lazio vs. Roma Showdown and Key Players
Gasperini acknowledged the unusual timing of this derby, falling so early in the season, but expressed no major concerns. He believes both teams are still in their formative stages, continuously building and refining their strategies.
Addressing the media in his pre-match press conference on Saturday, Gasperini reiterated his philosophy: “You don’t remember the ones you draw. The ones you lose, you forget quickly. In the end, the only thing we remember are the victories.”
Gian Piero Gasperini, Head Coach of AS Roma, at Stadio Olimpico.
He continued, “While it’s only the fourth round of fixtures, it’s still the very beginning of the season. It’s a bit unusual for a derby to be played this early. However, this phase also allows teams to focus more on development and improvement, which is fine.”
Regarding their opponents, Gasperini offered his respect: “Lazio is a very strong team, led by a great coach who has consistently achieved success. They didn`t have a massive transfer window this year but managed to retain their key players. Essentially, they’ve maintained the same squad that performed well last year, apart from the final two months. I hold their team in high regard, both collectively and for their individual talents. It’s guaranteed to be a top-tier match.”
Coaches Gian Piero Gasperini and Maurizio Sarri.
When questioned if this encounter would be his most significant challenge against Sarri, Gasperini focused on the present: “Right now, my attention is solely on the current moment. I can’t dwell on past encounters. This is an immense challenge, and I am committed to leveraging all my accumulated career experience for Roma. It’s precisely what motivated me to accept this role.”
Gasperini also provided insights into players like Artem Dovbyk, Lorenzo Pellegrini, and Tommaso Baldanzi, who have either faced scrutiny or limited playing time since his arrival.
“Players such as Dovbyk, Pellegrini, and Baldanzi remained here despite speculation they might leave. My task is to reintegrate them effectively. I’m looking to the future; I need everyone performing at their peak. Dovbyk must excel, Pellegrini perform exceptionally well, Baldanzi needs to contribute fully, and so do the rest of the squad. We have 22 or 23 players, and we must maximize their potential for our upcoming matches.”
Addressing new signing Kostas Tsimikas and his potential involvement against Lazio, Gasperini stated: “Tsimikas joined the group immediately after returning from his national team, participating in his first sessions last Tuesday and Wednesday. We have a demanding schedule ahead – Lazio, then Nice, Verona, Lille, and Fiorentina. He will definitely play. I don’t know precisely when, but he will get on the pitch and contribute.”
Kostas Tsimikas arriving at Roma.
He elaborated, “He only arrived a week ago. There’s a natural adjustment period to get acquainted with new teammates, opponents, and the team’s system. Perhaps he’ll start tomorrow, or maybe come on during the game; I can’t say for certain. However, we have full confidence in him: he will play sooner or later.”
Finally, regarding summer acquisition Neil El Aynaoui, Gasperini commented: “He played in a slightly more advanced role in the last game, which is quite demanding. For me, he’s versatile enough to cover all three midfield positions. Whether we play with two or three midfielders, he’s a flexible, dynamic player who can adapt to any role.”
