Gasperini's views ahead of Pisa trip

This is what the boss had to say.

Did the Bologna game help highlight where the club's summer transfer business has been good and less good? Are there any areas that need particular attention in these last few days?

“I have to say that the most important thing was how the players have responded as a team, how committed they have been over the last two months, getting behind me from the very start and believing in what we're doing, the way they went into our first league game with the right spirit irrespective of the performance, as you can always improve. The lads deserve credit for that and it gives us a platform to build on. It was the first game of the season and we beat a very difficult opponent but we must build on that tomorrow, when we'll have another very tricky game, as they all are in Serie A. We'll be up against a team and a set of fans that are back in the top flight for the first time in years so they'll be really up for it and determined to do well. It's going to be another great game.”

Do you want to say anything about the transfer window?

“Our transfers will be finalised at 8 pm on Monday evening – that's when it will be final, at least until January.”

Jan Ziolkowski joined today – Roma's seventh signing. What do you expect from him? How many more additions are needed to become even stronger?

“Ziolkowski is a signing [Frederic] Massara identified and I trust him in the transfer market because it's his job to watch lots of players around the world over the course of the year. Ziolkowski is young and already has experience. I've only seen videos of him so I've only been able to make a partial assessment. In any case, he's the right sort of player to have behind [Gianluca] Mancini and to give playing time to as and when the opportunity arises to see how he can develop. Perhaps he'll become a top player and fulfil the potential he's shown in this early stage of his career.”

So is he an addition or a reinforcement for the squad?

“He's an addition but a good addition, the right sort of addition, in line with the principles laid out. I've always thought that in order for a club to be sustainable – in financial terms too, which should be of less interest to me but are very important to me – you need a well-balanced squad that is as good as possible, as solid as possible, as competitive as possible. If you don't want to be laden with huge contracts, young players like this are a good option. Perhaps even a better option. And if some of those players then turn into the other type of player then it's a success. It means the club doesn't always have to look at only signing top players with high costs, of which there are many around. It means you can develop players, though not necessarily spending less – because you might buy several rather than just buying one at a high price. It's a philosophy. It allows you to be sustainable and bring players through, which is a nice thing. However, you do need the foundations in place, otherwise it's hard to bring players through. The players themselves will tell you with their performances. The way they play tells you if they're ready immediately or will be ready in a month or six months. You see it from how they perform in training or the impact they have on the match. That's the way I've always worked.”

Are you happy with your attacking options? Do you think you have enough firepower to compete on all fronts?

“I wouldn't set any targets at the moment. The target is to put together a competitive team. We can't talk about it today because there are still a few days left before the transfer window shuts. Today we're only focused on our game tomorrow, a Serie A game in a difficult atmosphere, where we'll be up against a team willing to do anything it takes. They got a good result on the opening day in Bergamo, a tough place to go. Those are the things we can talk about.”

Which attacking players will you be counting on?

“Tomorrow we'll have [Evan] Ferguson, [Artem] Dovbyk, [Paulo] Dybala, [Stephan] El Shaarawy, [Tommaso] Baldanzi and [Matias] Soule. Plus we'll have this academy kid with us: [Antonio] Arena. I liked what I saw in training. Since we have space on our bench, he'll come with us so that we can get to know him. That's our attack for tomorrow. From that we need to find what we need to beat Pisa, ideally.”

What was Jadon Sancho's answer? Yes or no?

“If you've got his number, call him! [laughing] You guys know everything. You've written about everything and more. I don't know what could happen in the coming days but in any case you shouldn't beg anyone, be it Sancho or anyone else who might join. It's a possibility because they're good players who can give us something extra, but it's also a big opportunity for them. A huge opportunity. If they come in with that sort of idea, then our ideas align. If not, you can't align two opposing mentalities. If they understand that, then it works; if not, they can stay where they are. No problem.”

Is Dybala a resource for Roma?

“I get the feeling there's a Roma team and then Dybala is an added value, especially when he's fit and in form, when he doesn't have any physical problems. He's undoubtedly a fantastic player, immensely talented. He's a player who gives you an extra gear and there aren't many around who can make such a difference. He's up there in that group but no player – no matter how important – should unsettle Roma. The team must have its own mentality and strength regardless of the strength of any individual. Then individuals can give you something more.”

I wanted to ask you about Dovbyk. How well considered is he at Trigoria?

“Apart from the start of pre-season, Dovbyk has always been a very positive element for me, as they all have. He's always been very committed, always tried to do his best in training. I have nothing to reproach him for. What I expect from him is that he channels all his energy into getting a result, which is what we must try to do, whether he's playing or not. And that's not so easy.”

From a tactical perspective, does Dybala mean doing things in a particular way when the team's not in possession? Is that something that worries you or not?

“It's not a problem because you take him for his qualities. Everyone gets involved in defending, even Dybala. There's not a single footballer in the modern game who doesn't help the team. Otherwise you're playing a man down and that's not possible. You have to use him in a way that fits with his qualities – for example, he's unlikely to be able to cover 70 metres along the flank. But within what he can do, he has to help the team when we don't have the ball, otherwise he'd only be half a player. Dybala can be a great player in both phases of play. I hope he can be a key player with the goals he scores and the assists he provides because he has top-class ability. No player has to adapt to play in a position. You have to embrace the qualities of each and every player. “Last Saturday we played with [Mario] Hermoso on the right, and he probably shouldn't even have spent pre-season with us based on the initial ideas. He's a player – like all the others who I've had here, including those who have left, bar none – who has been incredibly willing. I don't know how many times he's played on the right in his career but he had an excellent game. That shows you what I mean. Is it an emergency? Clearly it is. If you have to play 38 games like that, there's something you didn't do the best way when putting the squad together, but that's what I mean. I'd like you to highlight the players' willingness because that gives you the basis for a good season.”

I'd like to talk about the Roman players. Do you see Niccolo Pisilli in a pivot in front of the defence or further forward? And does Lorenzo Pellegrini fit with your tactical ideas?

“Pisilli is a midfielder, a versatile midfielder who can play in a pivot and further forward. I can't see him playing in [Evan] Ndicka's position or in [Mile] Svilar's position. He has the attributes to play a  bit deeper or a bit further forward. He's a midfielder and that's how he should be considered. “Pellegrini will be in the squad tomorrow. He's completed his recovery and has trained with the team this week. I've already spoken about him. They have to come to an agreement and they've had talks. I see Pellegrini as a mature player who loves Roma but is prepared to make other choices for the good of his career. That's the situation. But Pellegrini is a great lad and he's Roma through and through. He wants to play, get on in his career and achieve his goals. He's got this heavy contract weighing him down and there are probably many others like him in this game. If he can find the best solution for himself, we'll all be happy. I really do wish him all the best, if he does leave. The problem is there's only three days left, but I think the club and the player are completely willing. What if he stays? If that happens, we'll talk about it on 2 September. The talks don't involve me. I would have avoided this situation but I can understand both sides. That's it. Let them find a solution.”

What sort of game are you expecting at Pisa? Alberto Gilardino said you're a coach who makes it tough for everyone. Do you want to reply to that?

“I like you because you always ask me about the match... Is no one interested in the Europa League? The draw has just been made... Anyway, Gila was a brilliant player for me. He got me out of many a tight spot. He's a World Cup winner and I always thank World Cup winners for the joy they gave us. I had him at Genoa and he was immense and scored around 15 goals. He's a smashing lad and I have a wonderful relationship with him. He's done well as a coach. Centre forwards don't tend to become coaches but he's done superbly wherever he's been. He got Genoa promoted after coming in mid-season. He got Genoa back into Serie A and did well in Serie A. I saw how Pisa played in Bergamo and they clearly have an identity. He was a great player and he's going to have a great career as a coach.”

Do you have enough midfielders?

“We have our priorities at the moment. We're trying to build a team. As I said last week, lots of players have left. It's true that seven have come in, but ten have left, so it's almost half the squad being replaced and being rebuilt – ten out of 21-22 outfield players is half the team. We've had a reshuffle and it takes a bit of time but I never use time as an excuse. I know there's no such thing as time in football. You can't say you'll do something in a year or two's time. What you might be able to do in a year is not necessarily more than you could do now. You have to do what needs to be done immediately. Depending on what can be done of course. There's no time to waste.”

Have you had the impression from the inside that the club is a bit behind schedule in its transfer business? 

“I only have to answer to what I've said myself, not what others have said. People should only read my words. Of course there's a whole world out there that talks and interprets things, but as far as I'm concerned, you should only refer to the things I've said myself. And it's not that I don't say much – there's plenty there for you – so there's no need to make up any more.”

What's your view of Roma's Europa League opponents?

“Tough. We're going to have a battle on our hands from the start. Lille and Stuttgart are excellent teams, among the best in the Europa League. I've played Midtjylland once before and we struggled to beat them at home – if it hadn't been for [Cristian] Romero's goal. Away from home they're all good games – two in Glasgow, Nice, at Panathinaikos. They're all great atmospheres. We're going to have to sweat for it one game at a time, It would be better to finish in the top eight if we can but if not at least in the top 24. Last year PSG almost went out. Same with Real Madrid. It's a strange system. Some games might seem to give you an advantage but then you find out on the pitch. It's not the same for everyone and that gives you a random element to the group. We have to be up there. I'm not going to pull my hair out if we don't finish in the top eight. I'll be happy if we do, but we have to be in the top 24. The real competition starts in March – that's when it becomes decisive. Our target is to be in it then.”