Genoa Clash Stretches Roma as Gasperini Warns Calendar Demands Roster Depth
Speaking in his pre-match press conference ahead of hosting Genoa at the Stadio Olimpico, AS Roma head coach Gian Piero Gasperini addressed the physical strain on his squad following a dramatic midweek defeat to Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League. The fixture against Genoa marks Roma’s third match in a seven-day span.
Gasperini confirmed that Roma will be without five regular starters for Saturday’s Serie A encounter. Key attackers Paulo Dybala and midfielder Manu Koné both sustained injuries during the European fixture, while forward Donyell Malen serves a one-match suspension, severely limiting the manager’s rotational options across the pitch.
AS Roma
clubGasperini Dismisses Fitness Concerns Following Late Collapse Against Real Madrid
When asked whether Roma’s recent tendency to concede late goals stems from a systematic drop in physical intensity during the closing stages of matches, Gasperini rejected the notion that overall fitness was the core issue, pointing instead to specific set-piece vulnerabilities against Real Madrid.
“This is modern football: you have to play for 90 minutes. We have turned around matches, and in others the opposition has come back against us. In the final 15 minutes, when the match is evenly balanced, substitutions and certain situations carry a lot of weight. But that’s not a problem, except that we play many matches and some players may experience a slight drop-off. There is no question that matches last 90 minutes. What happened against Real Madrid was an anomaly: three set-piece goals. Then everyone is free to interpret it however they like.”
The defensive breakdown against Real Madrid saw Roma yield a 3-1 advantage by conceding three goals in the final seven minutes of play, all originating from corner-kick delivery. With Lorenzo Pellegrini dropping deeper into midfield and Castro stepping into the starting XI to replace the suspended Malen, Gasperini is forced to alter his structural balance while waiting on the recovery of Bryan Cristante for upcoming domestic fixtures.
Genoa
clubGasperini Demands Roster Expansion to Navigate Congested Continental Schedule
Addressing the broader strategic challenge of competing across three competitions simultaneously, Gasperini emphasized that modern football schedules demand significantly larger squads to avoid severe squad attrition.
“Tomorrow will be our third match in seven days, and Tuesday will be our fourth in ten days. Football has changed: either we adapt, or we suffer the consequences. We need to raise everyone’s level, including that of the youngsters who will have to help us beat Genoa tomorrow. It will not be an easy match. What concerns me is that we have very few substitutions available; in some areas, a Primavera player may make their debut.”
The loss of five starters leaves Roma with minimal senior depth on the bench for the visit of Daniele De Rossi’s Genoa side. Gasperini signaled that academy prospects will be integrated directly into the matchday squad to fulfill basic substitution requirements, warning that clubs competing in European football must adjust their transfer policy and squad build to withstand such intense fixture sequences.
Statements from the briefing were reported by Sky Sport.