In the 4th round of Serie A tonight, Roma will play against derby rival Lazio away. Roma coach Gasperini attended the pre-match press conference.
You are about to usher in your first Roman derby. Will Wesley and Hermoso recover in time to participate?
Need to see the situation again today, there are no positive signs at the moment, but considering that there are 24 hours left, I still have a silver lining. The derby is a special game, not only related to the standings, but also to the competition in the entire city, and the atmosphere will be very tense.
The Roman derby came very early this season, and people always say that two people were injured and died more than one person. Are you willing to accept a draw?
What people remember is the winning derby, not the draw. The derby did come very early, and both teams are still in the running-in and learning stages.
What aspect of Lazio are you most worried about?
They are a good team and I respect them very much. Although they were unable to sign ups this summer, they did not sell any players, basically maintaining the roster of last season, which is already very good.
Do you still think coaching Rome is the most difficult challenge in your career?
This was a huge challenge, and I brought my coaching experience to Rome, which inspired me to make a difference. I believe this is the right choice, I focus on now, trying to achieve the best results possible, and step out of my comfort zone. This is another challenge, exploring other paths while maintaining the principles of team initiative.
You and Sarri are both one of the most senior coaches in Serie A. What do you have in common?
We had a fight when we were in Serie C. He started coaching from a low-level team, creating a team that became a model. We won it all with our performance and results on the court.
Can Pellegrini start in this game?
Every player has a strong desire to play, and it is special for Rome to participate. Every player of mine is ready for tomorrow's game.
After the last game against Turin, did Dovbik bring you positive signals in training? What is the key to winning the derby?
The key is to seize the opportunity of a fatal blow. Everyone is full of decisions, emotions, and fighting spirit, but they must seize the opportunity to bring victory home at critical moments. We didn't perform well against Turin, although we shouldn't lose. The game could have played better, but now I don’t have to investigate it anymore. What I care about now is the development of the team. I need players who might have left the team and everyone has to do a great job.
What is Pellegrini's current physical condition? Are Zimikas ready to play?
Zimikas is integrating into the team, we have a lot of games next, and he will definitely get a chance to play, but I'm not sure if it's tomorrow, nor is it a starter or a substitute. It's certain that he will be on the stage sooner or later. Pellegrini seems to me to be strong and has great potential, but the key lies in his performance on the court. He had been out for several months due to injury, but he trained well and did not adapt to the problem and would appear sooner or later. Will you appear tomorrow? why not? I hope he can continue to perform at a high level, not intermittently. (Italian national team coach) Gattuso is also waiting for Pellegrini, but he needs to recover better physical condition. He could replace Dybala's position, but if both fans and clubs want him to come back, he needs to be restored first.
Will the coach have a greater role in this derby?
We will take our own responsibilities, but the players who play must give their all, knowing that they represent the team and must give 100%.
What do you mean when you want to get out of your comfort zone? Will it change the high-level pressing tactics?
I will not change my tactical principles, and every time I have been told that such tactical principles won't work at higher levels of competition, but this tactic always proves successful. These principles cannot be changed, and I will never change myself again. What I am talking about is that I will make subtle adjustments based on the characteristics of the players I currently have.
Roma only scored 2 goals in the first three rounds of Serie A. In the 2025 game, Roma's goal number has always been very small. The team's responsibility is not just the striker. They must get a good opportunity to score. Of course, this is an aspect that we need to improve, but the whole team has to work on it, not just a few players.
Will you continue to use high-pressing in tomorrow's game, or will you limit your opponent's offensive space?
We need to do both aspects at the same time, not just one aspect. We are clear about the strength of our opponents, we must let their players encounter difficulties, and we must prepare for the game based on this.
Can Ainavi appear with Conne? Or is he just a substitute for Conne?
Enavi can play in any position, he is a very flexible midfielder who can adapt to both three and two midfielders. I let him play a higher position against Turin, but that position is more complicated.
Sulai's position this season has changed
Sulai is currently playing higher than last season, and as a midfielder, he still needs to be tested.
This game is scheduled to be held at noon. Will this affect the players?
It is not appropriate to schedule the game at 12:30 in the current temperature, which is a problem for all players, not just for Rome players. What is the status of
Salaway? He just came on as a substitute in the last game. He was in good condition, absolutely no problem.