Gian Piero Gasperini firmly stated that Roma is not prioritizing Serie A over their upcoming Europa League fixture against Bologna, even amidst a significant injury crisis in their attacking lineup. He commented, ‘Donyell Malen’s situation is truly unique.’
The match is scheduled to kick off at the Stadio Dall’Ara on Thursday at 17:45 GMT (18:45 CET).
The return leg will take place at the Stadio Olimpico next week, confirming that only one Italian team will progress to the quarter-finals of the competition.
It has been confirmed that the Giallorossi will be without Gianluca Mancini, who is suspended, in addition to injured players Matias Soulé, Paulo Dybala, Artem Dovbyk, and Evan Ferguson. However, Mario Hermoso has been included in the squad list.
Gasperini Navigates Roma’s Limited Options
“We will assess the situation tomorrow; currently, Hermoso is available and could feature, but he has been sidelined for a period, so we’ll decide if he starts or comes off the bench,” Gasperini explained during his press conference.
“At least one Italian team is guaranteed to advance. It’s true that the performance of Italian clubs in Europe this season hasn’t been strong, and it’s even worse when considering the struggles of the Nazionale, indicating this is clearly not a mere coincidence.
“We all need to delve deeper and identify the root of the problem – coaches, clubs, and likely the media too. It’s not simply a tactical issue; there’s something more profound, perhaps originating from youth academies and the fundamental structure of how teams are built.”
Considering his Europa League success with Atalanta, alongside Roma’s Serie A clash with Como this weekend for a vital fourth-place spot, the question of priority arises.
“Every game holds importance; we cannot afford to make calculations. Instead, we approach them one at a time, striving to deliver our best in each encounter,” the coach responded.
“The focus is on both competitions. Perhaps a few weeks ago, with the Coppa Italia also in play, Serie A might have seemed the primary focus, but we never entertained the thought of letting any competition slide.
“I see no scenario where we would intentionally put in less effort during a match. It’s possible we might not perform as well in some games as in others, but that will never be by choice.”
The January transfer window additions have had a considerable impact, most notably striker Malen, who will finally make his Europa League debut for Roma after being cup-tied during the group stage due to his previous tenure with Aston Villa.
“We are scoring more goals, and the trend is positive, thanks in part to Malen’s arrival, which has made our attack more potent,” Gasperini confirmed.
“We have certainly lost several key attacking players, but Malen has provided an extra dimension. Bryan Zaragoza requires time to adapt; he’s only been here for a month. Situations like Malen, who hit the ground running so quickly in a new team, are extremely rare.
“With both Dybala and Soulé unavailable, we’ve had to rotate players in those supporting roles. Lorenzo Pellegrini has consistently filled that position, but Lorenzo Venturino, Robinio Vaz, and Stephan El Shaarawy are all capable of playing there.”
When asked if he had discussed Pellegrini’s future, given his expiring contract, Gasperini replied:
“No, this is not a topic we need to address now, as we are in a crucial phase of the season, and our sole focus must remain on the pitch.”
Could Malen and Vaz potentially start together tomorrow?
“Anything is possible,” the coach remarked with a smile.
