Gasperini: "Dybala and Soulé can coexist. Lookman? I hope everything works out for the best."

"Credibility and a desire for change." Gian Piero Gasperini, speaking to Sky, attempted to explain his Roma's manifesto and the reasons why he chose to embrace the Friedkins' project. "We can take stock in a month, and I feel confident saying we've already achieved something good together. I met a cohesive, united group that offered me great support," the coach began. "Looking ahead, we need to do much more. The goal? We need to gain credibility, especially with our fans; we need to give the impression we're building something important. Roma must be ambitious, but it will take time. The important thing is to be credible and give the impression we're on the right path. I don't want to talk about results now; once you acquire an identity, time will give you more. The players are an important part, but team spirit is crucial."

A few comments on the transfer market were inevitable, even though Gasperini remained defensive about the names. "I can only say that Roma's transfer market needs to be looked at in terms of what has happened so far. All the players who have arrived are 21-23 years old and have had significant experience to varying degrees," Gasperini said. "These are profiles that are in my direction, but they're unusual for a team or a city like Rome. More like them will arrive to try to build a team that can grow over the years. Fabio Silva? I haven't heard from him; all I can do is watch my team's training sessions (laughs). It's undeniable that there are a lot of players up for grabs; we're entering a crucial period in the transfer market." With Echeverri almost definitively out of the question, Eguinaldo is also being considered. Another player under 21. "When we first spoke with the Friedkins, their project was geared precisely toward developing and developing young players," Gasperini confided. "That's what I did not only at Atalanta but also at Genoa. It's a different direction for Roma too. Often, we went for more famous players, but also older ones. They might bring you immediate results but are less effective in the long run. This change was the catalyst that convinced me. I said to myself: you've done it in so many places, if you can do it in Rome, it's extraordinary."

The coach also revealed how the contact with the Friedkins arose: "Ranieri said in a press conference that I wouldn't be Roma's coach? You'll have to ask Claudio whether that was a lie or not. Let's just say it was a crucial phase of the season and he did well, but my decision came after Atalanta's last league match. I asked Percassi for permission to talk to another club. Then everything happened in three days, and the owners convinced me." Gasperini also addressed issues on the pitch, such as the coexistence of Dybala and Soulè. "Good players can always coexist," the former Atalanta coach continued. "It's true that they're both left-footed and prefer to play on the right, but Paulo has also played in other areas of the pitch, while Soulè is so young he needs to increase his range of action. Given his age, he can move to other areas of the pitch; last year he even played on the wing. This is an asset, not a limitation."

The coach also sidestepped the controversy surrounding the captain's armband, which has (for now) been passed from Pellegrini to El Shaarawy. "The captain's armband no longer being held by Pellegrini? It's a hierarchy I've always adopted, and I'm surprised it's caused controversy. A team needs more than one potential captain. The armband is a prestigious thing; to wear it, they must meet certain requirements. If you have more players in a team, you're a stronger unit. Clearly, those who have been there longer certainly meet those requirements. It seems like a very simple criterion that isn't subjective." Finally, a comment on the Lookman issue: "I can only say that I'm disappointed because we've had some great moments, and there's a risk of remembering these players only for the last episode. Today, only this stands out, and I'm sorry for both the boy and the club. I hope everything turns out for the best."