The manager after the 1-1 draw in Athens: “It wouldn’t have been a displeasure for me to have to play in the playoffs, we grew up playing a lot of games. We have a strong motivation component and it wouldn’t have been a problem”
A pass to the round of 16 snatched at the end and a lot of satisfaction from Gian Piero Gasperini. Roma, in fact, is the only Italian team to have secured the pass for the round of 16 despite being numerically inferior for 75 minutes and an offensive emergency due to a code red. The coach is beaming at the end of the match. “You can tell us many things, but this group is always extraordinary – Gasp is keen to reiterate -. Everyone who enters the pitch gives their all. In the first ten minutes we played with great personality. Then it is clear that the episodes are decisive. It was difficult to come back after the expulsion and the goal conceded in that way. There are no longer any teams that don’t exploit their numerical superiority. Ziolkowski was really good at believing in it, he scored a great goal”.
eighths or not
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Now focus on the championship until March when the Europa League returns. But Gasperini is keen to point out: “It wasn’t a displeasure for me to have to play the playoffs, we grew up playing a lot of games. We have a strong component of motivation and it wouldn’t have been a problem. Sometimes I feel things are exaggerated if you don’t go to the round of 16 straight away, playing two more games isn’t a drama. The only problem in those cases is injuries. If it were up to me I would play more games instead of training. Even the players sometimes prefer it.” On the many young people in the Roma squad. “I have been raising young people all my life – admits Gasp -. I have always had courage. But I must say that I have always had a responsible nucleus both in Bergamo and in Rome that helps the kids grow, that gives them confidence by transmitting an important DNA. They are a good lesson for the young people, the credit is not just mine”.
dybala
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“Dybala? We will know tomorrow morning how he is, I’m not so confident for Udine but I hope he recovers very soon because he is fundamental for us and for Malen. We have to be patient until tomorrow and understand what he has with his knee. Tomorrow Hermoso returns to the group, El Shaarawy is close to recovery”
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