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

The transfer window is approaching, but it’s De Rossi’s Genoa, coming up next, that worries Gian Piero Gasperini the most, especially given Roma’s three losses in their last four league matches. The Giallorossi coach urges his team not to let their guard down: “De Rossi has given Genoa courage, and that’s an important quality in soccer and beyond. They’re a team that knows how to fight back and battle; they held their own against Atalanta while playing with 10 men the entire match. Their league position is tough, and to beat them, we’ll have to dig deep. We absolutely need to win right now.”

To do so, Gasp won’t be able to count on Dovbyk. “He’s not ready yet and won’t be called up,” the coach clarifies. “I hope he’ll be ready next week. He’s training but isn’t able to kick the ball yet. Hermoso isn’t at his best either; he has a groin strain. We’ll assess him in the coming hours to see if he can start.” There’s little hope for Ferguson either, though for different reasons following his public dismissal a week ago. Gasperini returns to those very comments: “ I’ve already explained that Dybala is a top-tier 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 just hard for me to find a player of that caliber. If I have to choose between the two, I’d pick Dybala; that seems clear to me. Ferguson now needs to do something impressive; since he’s 21, he needs to focus on hunger, desire, and knowing where he stands. “Use these tools to win back his spot, since technically he’s not on Paulo’s level.” 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’s struggling physically, playing as an attacking midfielder is even worse. If Paulo is fit, the attack’s value increases, and that’s why I’m sticking with him. I hope he can get back into top physical shape.”

TRANSFER MARKET—  For Gasperini, it’s also a return to the past. “It was a long experience; they were eight wonderful years. For me, Genoa remains an important part of my life. We went from Serie C to Europe; there was a unique president like Preziosi, with whom I had an excellent relationship, though. Today’s Genoa has many interesting young players, not just Frendrup. They always bring out the best in players. Pisilli at Genoa? He didn’t get much playing time in Rome due to the excellent performances of the starters, but I have a very high opinion of him. If he can make it here, I’ll be happy; right now, it’s not feasible since I only have three midfielders.” The transfer window is a recurring topic, but Gasperini prefers to dodge the question: “It opens on January 3, and I’d rather not go back to talking about the summer window. But let’s not forget that the attack already had some issues and lost Shomurodov and Saelemaekers. Does Chivu say the transfer window has an impact? He’s right; it’s disrespectful to the players who give their all and risks breaking their concentration. We coaches are against it lasting this long; people talk more about the transfer window than the matches. Besides, I don’t put much stock in the January window.” In the meantime, however, Pellegrini will also be out: “Lorenzo is a big loss for us, even if his form has dipped a bit in recent matches,” Gasp concludes. I don’t know the timing of the transfer window, but now we’re entering a stretch of nine games in a month, and if we factor in the players at the Africa Cup of Nations, it gets tough. Everyone will have to give a little extra. We don’t need character or attitude from the transfer market; this team has it and proved it in Turin against Juve.”