Gasperini previews Juventus encounter

This is what the boss had to say...

What similarities do you see between yourself and Luciano Spalletti? And what part will Paulo Dybala be able to play in this match against Juventus?

“What Luciano and I have in common is that we both try – albeit through different characteristics and different situations – to obtain results by getting our teams to play football. That's always set us apart. It's important to us and I think Sunday will be a match between two teams who will try to win by playing quality football. Both sides will be looking for just one result: to win the game.

“We'll see about Dybala today. He's much better than he was yesterday but we still need to assess whether or not he's able to play. We'll have a look later.”

What more did you need to do against Milan and Napoli to go one step further and win the game? Do you think now is the right time for Roma to win a head-to-head clash?

“Recently we've drawn with Napoli and Milan but we lost the reverse fixture. We'll see how it goes this time. In other matches, like against Como, who aren't far behind us, and Bologna, we haven't always lost – otherwise we wouldn't be in the position we're in now. Of course we're missing a win against one of these teams around us, very close to us, but it's not something we need to fixate on. We need to think about how we play the game because internally and as a team very often this sort of match is a delicate balancing act. Sometimes it's the fine details that determine the result.”

Roma are a different team to the one that played Juventus earlier this season: more mature tactically and more confident. Would you say Roma are better than Juventus now?

“Last time we were missing a few players, especially in defence. We played well though, and Juventus did too. It was in the balance till the end and at one stage we hoped we could get a result. This match is going to come down to individual moments. It's true that since the end of December we've had a very difficult January because of injuries: we've often found ourselves down to the bare bones. We've been blowing a bit hot and cold, with some wins and some defeats. Now we're going into a period when we need to be consistent and try to put together a run of wins. This is the time when you can pull clear of your rivals and that's what we must try to do.”

What impact does the four-point lead have on your approach to the game? And is there a return date for Matias Soule?

“With Soule we're taking things as they come. Not this week, but hopefully he'll be better next week and able to rejoin the squad so that he can at least start training again regularly.

“The four-point lead is significant as it shows how well Roma have done but it won't impact the result. I think this competition will be decided much further down the line. We need results to stay in the mix but, as I've said on other occasions, we hope to get to the last few weeks and still have everything to play for, because it means you're there or thereabouts. It's unthinkable that a team can take off and decide the league this early.”

What does Italian football need to be able to compete on the European stage again?

“It's a very broad topic and not one we can talk about here today. But we need to be aware of it and face up to the reality – not only at club level but with the national team too. There are lots of factors. I don't think it's one single problem, otherwise it would probably be easy to solve. It's an accumulation of situations that have led to us being less competitive in Europe. It might also be down to what other countries are doing – take Norway, for example. You have to give credit where credit is due.”

Do you think Roma are more likely to finish in the top four of Serie A or go all the way in the Europa League? And what did you learn from your time at Juventus?

“That's a very difficult prediction to make. At the moment we need to stay in everything. Three months may not seem like a long time but it is. We must try to compete in the league – go as high as we possibly can – and stay in the Europa League. When it comes to the crunch, both in Serie A and in Europe we must be ready to finish in the best position possible. There are lots of variables: you think you're going to get some players back but then you lose them. Players can pick up suspensions in Italy and in Europe. Some of our players, like [Evan] Ferguson and [Antonio] Arena aren't available in Europe. We have to take each game as it comes and try to do the best we can in every match.

“Juventus was a fantastic learning experience for me. I spent ten years in the academy as a kid then another ten as an academy coach, plus five with the Primavera. I learnt so much from it, on both a personal and a football level. It was a club where football was done well and it gave me the opportunity to grow, to travel around Europe and see teams and players. It helped me a lot in my career.”

Is the four-man defence we saw in the second half against Cremonese a possibility from the start in a game like this?

“Everything is possible. Being able to use it during the match – and not just in training – is an extra reassurance. Having used it and done well gives you experience, so you can easily switch between the two. The players too see that certain situations have been tried and worked. Of course a lot depends on the match, the opponents and the players we have available. At the moment we have lots of midfielders who are doing well and perhaps fewer wide options. But they're all experiences that will come in handy going into the business end of the season."

Do you have an idea of how many points will be needed to qualify for the Champions League?

“Normally you need at least 70 points, 72 or 73. I can't remember exactly how many were needed last year, but you usually need more than 70. This year it might take a bit more but it's hard to say because it depends on how well the other teams involved do. Last year there were lots of teams: Roma, Milan, Lazio. There were more teams. Maybe this year Bologna have fallen away earlier. Maybe Lazio have too. I don't know. As I said earlier, any team that's able to string together a run of wins in this period can build up a big advantage.”

The Olimpico will be full again for Juventus but the fans won't be able to go to away games for a while. How much do Roma lose out because of this ban? 

“The away match ban was discussed a few weeks ago. Unfortunately you end up penalising thousands of people who would like to travel to watch the team. This happens in Italy. Perhaps it's different in Europe. I don't know exactly how the rules work but we'll have a definitive answer next week. We all hope these restrictions can end so that people are free to support their team away with the same passion they show at home. It's part of the game, travelling with your team and experiencing other cities where they're playing. That's what we're all hoping for.”

It's often said that players who left Atalanta for other teams struggle to assert themselves. How do you explain that, thinking about Teun Koopmeiners for example?

“It's not always the case. I've played against players who were even better than they were when they were young at Atalanta. I can't always pinpoint the reason why at other clubs some players haven't performed at their best, although Koopmeiners recently scored two goals in the Champions League. I can assure you that Koopmeiners is a great player. I don't know why he hasn't been able to live up to the initial expectations but at Atalanta he was an excellent player.”

What do you think about being drawn against Bologna in the Europa League and how big an advantage is playing the return leg at home?

“I think in this type of match the first leg is very important because that's where you can build up a bit of an advantage. Two-legged ties are strange, different from league matches. There's less margin for error and it's harder to come back. That's why the first leg is important. When you reach a certain stage, you expect to meet stronger teams than those you faced in the group stage.

“It's a shame because it's two Italian teams who could both have gone on and improved the ranking. But in this competition you have to clear big hurdles and be ambitious about going all the way.”

Speaking about Francesco Totti's potential return to Roma, you said, “I have a few ideas.” What did you mean by that?

“I'll play him tomorrow! No, right now there's no situation. We're really focused on this game against Juventus.”