Gian Piero Gasperini spoke to the press ahead of a massive clash against Parma on Sunday. Here are the full quotes from the manager:
When asked about the present and the future of the club he stated:
“So tomorrow we’re in Parma, with three matchdays to go. We know that every match is crucial for us, so we’re fully focused on that. As for the rest, these situations are very much tied to what the club fundamentally wants to do, wants to undertake, so we need to turn primarily to them.”
“I don’t think anyone’s moving that quickly. Right now, we’re all busy with the championship, but maybe things will move even faster at the end of the season.”
Regardless of any departures or transfers, how many players do you think this current squad needs to be competitive at an excellent level?
“This year’s results demonstrate how good this group is, and especially the way they’ve consistently responded throughout the championship. Throughout the thirty-five matchdays, right from the start, even in difficult moments, the team has always been there, has always achieved good results, and has always remained high in the standings. We’ll see what happens this summer. I’m still of the opinion that we need to improve, trying to bring in players who can bring added value, who can help the team grow.”
Is there a risk of a downsizing without the Champions League, or not?
“The Champions League brings you more resources. Everyone wants to get into the Champions League solely for that reason, otherwise, until a few years ago, no one cared about fourth place. Now, fourth place, third place, or second place are important. It’s clear that if you have more financial resources, you have more opportunities to operate on the market. But that’s not the only thing: the world is also full of clubs that know how to operate well on the market even without such significant resources.”
How far along the casting for the sporting director is and if the Friedkins are involving you?
“Right now, we’re totally focused on the league and tomorrow’s match. As for all the various options, they involve so many teams, and so there’s a lot of casting calls everywhere. Right now, at least I’m focused on tomorrow’s match.”
When asked about his comments post Fiorentina about not wanting to work with someone else’s ideas, the club supporting his choices, and about English style managers role in Italy?
“I’ve already said that, in my opinion, the coach and the sporting director absolutely must work together, not each going their separate ways. They must tell each other their stories and speak with great sincerity, looking at what can be done for the good of the club, for the good of the team, and with a single goal: to improve their team technically by seeking players with the characteristics the coach needs to develop his game, while keeping within the budget constraints the sporting director finds himself with. I see them as two very closely linked roles, very close, both in terms of footballing ideas and in terms of the ability to support and help each other, while also understanding each other’s difficulties. All this with one goal in mind: to improve the team.”
“It’s clear that my way of playing has brought me results and so I try to carry forward what have been my strengths and develop situations and perhaps look for players who can help me develop the type of game I want to play.”
Kone is back and was immediately decisive in the last match. I ask you: is he a player you want to count on next season? Is he one of those you consider unsellable?
“In modern football, there’s no such thing as a “non-transferable” player anywhere, perhaps even in the world’s top teams. And then we return to the issue of fourth place: what makes the difference? It’s always the financial aspect. When faced with unmissable offers, everyone—everyone, except a very few—is unmissable. But these unmissable offers are extremely rare, and Kone is a strong player. Why would I say I’d like him to leave? I hope he continues to play for Roma. Then, when faced with an unmissable offer, then… that perhaps allows you to do other things. But that applies to everyone”
When asked about his desire to renew the players on expiring conracts:
“But in fact, I’ve renewed all the players, I’ve met with all the sporting directors… Right now, I’m working solely on the team to hopefully win tomorrow’s match. All other issues will be discussed—if I’m involved with the club—with the club, which is very busy right now and so, when it deems it appropriate, it will accelerate this. But the club is moving, it’s not that it’s not moving. Then, after that, it’s clearly not the right time yet.”
Why should this Roma team get to the Champions League?
“First of all, let’s get the ‘political’ out of the way, as I fortunately have nothing to do with politics. I’m someone who’s always been involved in sports, and sport is transversal. Roma could qualify for the Champions League, but, as I said before, the difference is truly minimal because the others deserve it too. Because we’ve been there throughout the championship, battling, playing with all the other teams. Bologna, Lazio, Atalanta were eliminated… The others are still there, and now everything is playing on the edge of a point. Because it’s been a very satisfying season for us, for me, for the team. If we qualify for the Champions League, it would truly be a result that would give us enormous satisfaction.”
When asked about playing the same starting XI that started vs Fiorentina:
“I like the usual defence! Roma are doing well, we’re having a good run of confidence, even technically. Every match is truly different. We’re facing a team that has achieved some important results, has pulled itself out of the relegation battle very well, and is certainly a calm team. But we saw last week how the Italian league, fortunately, has become good right up until the final matchday, where even teams that don’t have clear objectives at the moment are playing their best games. We saw Verona, already relegated, take three points in Turin and Sassuolo beat Milan… This is very positive. I know that tomorrow we’ll have to do really well to win against Parma”
When asked about his uncertain statements about still being at Roma come the end of the season:
“Let’s not dwell on words, let’s get to the heart of the matter. It’s clear that the time will come when we should truly be a strong team, right? A team where everyone is convinced of what we’re going to achieve, obviously. And so we can’t afford any doubts or uncertainties about this.”
He is then asked about Matias Soule coming back from injury and his importance:
“Soulé definitely did well. He had this very long, painful period with pubalgia. This certainly left some after-effects, but he’s overcoming them. He’s playing. He’s not at his best, certainly, physically, but his contribution, when he’s there, is always very important.”
“What do you mean by leader? Yes, definitely an important player. Just as we have a group of very important players.”
Gasperini is then asked about the Parma manager Carlos Cuesta:
“I had the chance to meet him last summer. He’s a very well-prepared guy. Yes, he’s actually jumped over a lot of hurdles at times, hasn’t he? He’s reached the top straight away. That happens. There are some who have to take a much more tortuous path, with many more curves, others who take the direct route. He’s one of them. Usually, in these ways, it’s also a bit more risky at times, but he’s shown throughout the championship that he’s gaining more and more confidence.
“His Parma team still looks solid. They’ve achieved some really interesting results, they saved Parma with several games to spare, they’ve been a very solid team. And for such a young coach who’s been playing in Serie A right away, that’s certainly a great achievement.”
When asked about Angelino and Dybala’s involvement in the end of the season:
“Dybala has been training regularly for a couple of weeks now, and so he’s improving. It’s not so much a question of condition, but rather a question of regaining the strength in that leg, the shooting power.
“Angelino has truly had a season that was unexpected by everyone, a very difficult one. Perhaps for the first time in these last few days, these last few weeks, we’re seeing him again. He’s getting closer to the player he was last year, and that gives us hope, especially for next season, because he’s a strong player who unfortunately has been missing all year.”
When asked about the workings of the transfer market last summer and the agent commissions involved:
“I’m the least suitable person because I always talk from a technical perspective. If you ask me about Wesley from that perspective, I can talk about it as much as you want.”
“Bailey unfortunately had… But now I’ve seen that he’s always available, he can play. From a contractual perspective, I never participate in negotiations and I never participate in the development of contracts.”
“I may know some more, some less directly. If you ask me who Bailey’s agent is, I don’t know. Maybe I know him, but I can’t tell you. I don’t participate in drafting contracts, nor in negotiations about how much one player costs, how much they shoot, or how much the commissions are. I don’t think there are any coaches who can help in this regard.”
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