On the eve of Roma vs. Genoa, the coach explains: “Evan doesn’t have the same quality as Paulo, he needs to use other weapons if he wants to play.”

The transfer window is closing, but it is De Rossi’s Genoa that is causing Gian Piero Gasperini the most concern, given Roma’s three defeats in their last four league games. The Giallorossi coach urges his players not to let their guard down: “De Rossi has given Genoa courage, and that is an important asset in football and beyond. They are a team that knows how to come back and fight, they held their own against Atalanta playing with 10 men for the whole game. The table is difficult for them and to beat them we will have to scrape the barrel. We absolutely need to win at this point.“

To do so, Gasp will not be able to count on Dovbyk. ”He’s not ready yet and won’t be called up,” the coach said. I hope he will be next week. He is training but is not yet able to kick. Hermoso is not at his best either, he has a sort of groin injury. We will assess him in the next few hours to see if he can play from the start.“ There is little hope for Ferguson either, but for other reasons after his public rejection a week ago. Gasperini returns to those statements: ” I have already explained that Dybala is a top-level player. The comparison was between him and Ferguson, and I stand by what I said. But it’s not an attack on Ferguson. It’s difficult for me to find a player of this quality. If I have to choose between the two, I choose Dybala. That seems clear to me. Ferguson now has to do something good. Given that he is 21 years old, he has to focus on his hunger, his desire, and knowing where he is. He needs to use these weapons to regain his place, given that technically he is not like Paulo.“ So, is there still room for Dybala as a false nine? ”In some cases, it was the only solution, but I think he can do very well in that role,“ Gasperini reiterates. ”When he has physical difficulties, playing as an attacking midfielder is even worse. If Paulo is fit, the value of the attack increases, and that’s why I insist on him. I hope he can get back to optimal physical shape.“

TRANSFER MARKET—  For Gasperini, it’s also a return to the past. ”It was a long experience, eight wonderful years. For me, Genoa remains an important part of my life. From Serie C, we went to Europe. There was a peculiar president in Preziosi, but I had an excellent relationship with him. Today’s Genoa has many interesting young players, not just Frendrup. They always bring out the best in some players. Pisilli to Genoa? He didn’t get much playing time in Rome due to the excellent performances of the starters, but I have a very good opinion of him. If he can do it here, I’m happy, but at the moment it’s not feasible as I only have three midfielders.” The transfer market is a recurring theme, but Gasperini prefers to dodge the question: “It will start on January 3, and I don’t want to go back to talking about the summer. But let’s not forget that the attack already had some problems and lost Shomurodov and Saelemaekers. Chivu says that the transfer market has an impact? He’s right, it’s not respectful to the players who give their all, and it risks breaking their concentration. We coaches are against it lasting so long; there’s more talk about the transfer market than the games. Besides, I don’t believe much in the January transfer window.“ In the meantime, however, Pellegrini will also be missing: ”Lorenzo is a big loss for us, even if he has dropped off a bit in recent games,” concludes Gasp. I don’t know the timing of the transfer market, but now we’re entering a phase of nine games in a month, and if we add the players in the Africa Cup of Nations, it will be tough. Everyone will have to give something extra. We don’t need character or attitude from the transfer market; this team has that, and it proved it in Turin against Juve.”