Gian Piero Gasperini says Paulo Dybala and Matias Soulé received’t be obtainable for tomorrow’s Serie A match in opposition to Cremonese, however explains how he satisfied Donyell Malen to affix Roma from Aston Villa in January.
Roma are getting ready for a house Serie A match in opposition to Jamie Vardy’s Cremonese on Sunday.
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The Giallorossi sit fourth within the desk, only one level above Juventus,
“It is going to be a tricky sport. Now the factors begin to depend extra and, as typical, video games within the second a part of the season change into trickier,” Gasperini mentioned at a press convention through
“Now we have sturdy motivations. We don’t need to drop down. If we don’t make errors, it turns into robust for others.”
TURIN, ITALY – JANUARY 18: Paulo Dybala of AS Roma in motion in the course of the Serie A match between Torino FC and AS Roma at Stadio Olimpico di Torino on January 18, 2026 in Turin, Italy. (Photograph by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Pictures)
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The Giallorossi will probably be with out Argentine stars Dybala and Soulé, Gasp mentioned: “Soulé hasn’t skilled all week, so he received’t be obtainable. Hopefully, he returns for the subsequent ones. Venturino and Vaz are very younger, and we needed to throw them in instantly to gauge their stage of maturity. Venturino has already performed some video games at Genoa. Vaz was an important funding for the membership. I’m attempting to grasp how vital he will be now, however sooner or later, he’ll certainly be as such.
“The three factors are elementary tomorrow, so we should give our all. Dybala received’t be there; he’s persevering with to get better and is doing his finest, however nonetheless feels discomfort.”
Malen, nevertheless, has had a terrific affect since becoming a member of Roma, scoring 5 targets in his first 5 Serie A matches.
“I feel Serie A is tougher than different leagues, particularly for strikers. I’m satisfied he will be decisive in that function,” Gasperini mentioned.
ROME, ITALY – DECEMBER 15: Matias Soule of AS Roma gestures in the course of the Serie A match between AS Roma and Como 1907 at Stadio Olimpico on December 15, 2025 in Rome, Italy. (Photograph by Paolo Bruno/Getty Pictures)
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“He performed for Aston Villa and the nationwide crew. The way in which I satisfied him to come back and play for Roma was by telling him, ‘You’ll play.’ He usually ended up on the wing, however for me, he’s a striker, and he wished this. A striker doesn’t must be 1,90m tall.
“I feel we’re already on a very good stage, however every part can enhance. In case you lose strikers for one and a half months, it turns into tougher for everybody,” Gasp continued.
“We don’t know when and in the event that they’ll return, that’s the purpose. On this context, I’m attempting to contain Venturino and Vaz. Zaragoza has simply arrived, and Malen was certainly a signing that added worth. Proper now, we hope there received’t be extra accidents. Cup video games return in 20 days, and we’ll must play as soon as each three days.”
With Artem Dovbyk and Evan Ferguson out of motion, Gasperini is in need of choices in assault, so he may use both Manu Koné or Niccolò Pisilli in a extra superior place.
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“Now we have loads of choices in that division; we have to perceive whether or not we will additionally use them additional up the pitch, given the absences up entrance,” mentioned the Roma boss.
“There’s room for enchancment. Pellegrini has performed rather a lot, and a second of decreased sharpness is comprehensible. We should give time to Zaragoza. Now we have concerned him instantly, however he has legitimate ability units; he has already proven his qualities, however he wants some video games to combine with the crew.”
Roma have some essential video games forward, together with one in opposition to Juventus subsequent week.
NAPLES, ITALY – FEBRUARY 15: Donyell Malen of AS Roma celebrates after scoring his facet’s second aim in the course of the Serie A match between SSC Napoli and AS Roma at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on February 15, 2026, in Naples, Italy. (Photograph by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Pictures)
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“I need to reiterate that Ranieri and the membership have all the time mentioned this was a transition season, the place we’d must construct and develop the crew. I’ve talked in regards to the Champions League,” Gasperini mentioned.
“I’ve left it, and I miss it. If somebody thinks they will put strain on me, they couldn’t be extra improper. I’ve set this goal, however we’ve to remove Juve, Napoli, or Como. I got here right here to construct one thing strong. It’s not true that it’s unimaginable to work on this metropolis. It’s tough, however not for the surroundings.”
Lastly, Gasperini additionally commented on current referee controversies coming after the Inter-Juventus match.
“Soccer is a contact sport; for those who take away the deal with, you’re taking away an attractive gesture,” the Roma coach concluded.
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“Handballs have all the time been an issue, whereas diving is a more moderen difficulty attributable to the interpretation of freeze-frames, which has accelerated this course of. Final Sunday, apart from the Bastoni-Kalulu incident, there have been not less than two different blatant incidents.”