The Giallorossi coach: “The only difficult moment was after the 5-2 against Inter. I raised the bar because I saw how these guys worked. Market: now from an economic point of view we are in place”
Roma’s crazy joy on a night that brought the Giallorossi to third place and into the Champions League after seven years. The architect of the success was Gian Piero Gasperini who at the end of the match could not contain his emotions and with shining eyes went to celebrate under the visitors’ sector of the Bentegodi. A hard-earned success against Verona which makes the coach even more proud. “I found an incredible group – begins Gasp -. There was everyone’s desire to have a high-level season and this was gratifying right from the start. We gained the credibility of the fans and the critics, it was a difficult year for other aspects but never for the relationship with the players and the public. This was the strong locomotive that led us to this result”.
evil factor
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On the other hand, Gasperini has always believed in the Champions League even in moments when the presidency didn’t ask him to. “The most difficult moment was after the 5-2 against Inter, it was perhaps the only one. I raised the bar because I saw how these guys worked. Even in the direct clashes in the return leg I saw important growth, I knew that we could play our chances against Napoli, Milan or Juve. Malen obviously made us make an incredible leap in quality in attack. We were waiting to have this string of victories, it came at the end.” In those days, however, a Champions League-sized Dybala was missing, as we saw tonight. “We missed many important players in that phase, but we gritted our teeth,” added Gasperini, who doesn’t hide his optimism about the Argentine: “Dybala? I believe he’s staying, I’ve never had any doubts. If we were in difficulty it’s because we missed him for three months. I managed to put the Friedkins in contact with Paulo and if he doesn’t stay now I don’t know what to do anymore (laughs, ed.). It’s not a definitive thing, but I really think so. I don’t think there are any problems, there are 15 days that speak
CURTAIN WITH FABREGAS
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Then on the match: “It was a beautiful evening even if it was difficult. Verona played a great match as they often did. Even when we were in superiority we didn’t finish until the end and there was the risk that an inactive ball could ruin everything for us”, begins Gasp with the celebratory shirt on. Finally the curtain call with Fabregas. “I’m happy for you and for Como, you were an expression of football apart when you throw yourself on the ground a bit – Gasp smiles -. You were an example of football, well done.” Fabregas thanks and jokes: “Even when we play too much with the goalkeeper you don’t like us! Thanks and many compliments to you too mister.”
the market
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Finally, an inevitable digression on the transfer market which will be: “The Champions League has this great thing about it. Financial Fair Play could also have an impact on the next transfer market. Instead, qualification for the Champions League fixes things and puts us in a position to improve the team. Both in terms of the economic side and for the showcase. You can play in Rome, in a stadium that is always full and with such an important competition. Maybe in the Champions League you get blows, but you definitely come out improved.”
left-handed
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Gianluca Mancini was also very happy, the hero of the derby who will play in his first career Champions League. “I feel like crying, my heart is pounding. There’s a lot of euphoria. This is a victory for the group. Inside we’ve always said it to each other even when they thought we were doomed. We’ve had 5 consecutive victories, the coach told us: ‘Just do a run and we’ll do it’. Tonight we believed in it, even if it was a difficult match against a tough Verona. We deserve it.” Then he is keen to make things clear: “We senators have felt a lot about ourselves, but we have always put the love for this shirt and for the fans first. We also put this before ourselves, training even if we were ill. After various European semi-finals and finals we were unable to reach the Champions League, but this year we did something unique and special. I challenge those who believed in it besides us, there were few of them. Even after defeats we always reacted as a great team. The Parma match was the most exciting, we really believed in it more than in the derby.”
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