Gian Piero Gasperini insisted a was a good reflection of the competition after Roma have been held by Bologna within the Europa League spherical of 16 first leg on the Renato Dall’Ara, leaving the tie completely poised forward of subsequent week’s return on the Olimpico.
It was a bodily, demanding night for the guests, with Bologna’s depth and the atmospheric backdrop of a packed Dall’Ara making life uncomfortable for a youthful Roma facet.
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Gasperini acknowledged as a lot after the ultimate whistle, although he was broadly happy with what his staff produced in troublesome circumstances.
“It was a match the place they put so much into the bodily facet, a bit like at Genoa,” he mentioned, with
“We tailored nicely, created harmful conditions within the first half, although we have been slightly below them at occasions and the stadium performed its half too.”
Federico Bernardeschi’s function precipitated Roma some issues, although Gasperini was reluctant to single it out because the defining issue.
“Bernardeschi at all times performs in that zone, he did wonderful issues and Bologna have robust gamers,” he mentioned. “The end result might be truthful as a result of we additionally had loads of harmful probabilities.”
BOLOGNA, ITALY – MARCH 12: Gian Piero Gasperini, Head Coach of AS Roma, embraces Vincenzo Italiano, Head Coach of Bologna, previous to the UEFA Europa League 2025/26 Spherical of 16 First Leg match between Bologna FC 1909 and AS Roma at Stadio Renato Dall’Ara on March 12, 2026 in Bologna, Italy. (Photograph by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Pictures)
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Roma coach Gasperini appears to be like ahead to second leg towards Bologna
On Roma’s equaliser, Gasperini dismissed any suggestion of elaborate planning.
“It was not a set piece we had particularly labored on,” he mentioned, earlier than providing a broader commentary concerning the nature of recent soccer.
“Second balls have change into decisive, the urgent forces you to play lengthy, and you find yourself taking part in this rugby-football. I feel it’s partly a seasonal factor, as temperatures change and video games open up, you are likely to see extra technical soccer.”
With the second leg to come back on the Olimpico, Gasperini is assured the dynamic will shift in Roma’s favour.
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“At our stadium will probably be decisive, and each groups can play a special sport,” he mentioned.
“The house crowd is not going to enable this type of method, we might want to construct one thing extra on the technical facet.”
He was additionally fast to defend his gamers’ angle, pushing again on any criticism. “The braveness and want weren’t missing, we created 4 or 5 probabilities. There was a top quality opponent in entrance of us and Roma’s efficiency was completely not unfavourable.”