Key Highlights
- Gasperini warns Roma against overconfidence ahead of crucial match.
- Roma face Cremonese as joint leaders in the Serie A table with Inter.
- Gasperini discusses team’s progress and upcoming challenges.
- Injury updates for key players like Dybala, Angelino, Leon Bailey, Artem Dovbyk, and Evan Ferguson.
Roma Head Coach Gasperini Warns Against Dreaming Too Big
AS Roma’s head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has issued a stark warning to his players ahead of their crucial away match against Cremonese on Sunday, cautioning that “people must dream, but the dreams that actually come true are very rare.”
Roma as Serie A Leaders
The Giallorossi currently share top spot in the Serie A table with Inter Milan after 11 rounds into the season. Gasperini acknowledges his team’s progress and potential while maintaining a realistic outlook.
“This is a team that is giving its all and on the right track, but you cannot talk about a huge achievement just 11 rounds into the season,” he said during his press conference. “The players have improved on a technical level and we are already reaching some of the high points of our potential.”
Team Progress and Challenges
The coach recognizes that there is room for improvement but highlights their unity as a key factor in their current standing.
“Everything can be improved further, but we certainly play better as a team unit than a few weeks ago. We keep working to get stronger,” Gasperini stated.
Player Injuries and Return
Gasperini provided updates on several key players who are currently sidelined or returning from international duty:
- Paulo Dybala, Angelino, Leon Bailey, and Artem Dovbyk are still out of action.
- Evan Ferguson is back after skipping the recent international break with the Republic of Ireland but will need time to adapt given his young age and new surroundings.
- Angelino has started working on training pitch individually, while Dybala and Bailey are close to a comeback.
Defensive Record and Scoring Opportunities
Despite their excellent defensive record, Roma’s primary issue remains the lack of goals. Gasperini acknowledges this and shares his thoughts on improving the attacking play:
“I do think we’ve improved over the last month in both creating those situations and converting them into goals,” he said. “When I talk about the attacking moves, I mean for example Gianluca Mancini providing an assist for Zeki Celik.”
Team Statistics and Future Ambitions
Gasperini also touched upon their defensive record and emphasized the importance of maintaining composure in critical moments:
“The statistics don’t lie, we lost almost every game where we fell behind, the only exception was Fiorentina. As you grow in every area, you also gain more confidence and manage to push past obstacles or unlucky moments. That too is a process,” Gasperini assured.
When asked about his belief in Roma winning the Scudetto, he remained grounded:
“People must dream, but the dreams that actually come true are very rare.
We’re not looking for miracles, we’re looking to work,” Gasperini concluded.
Roma face Cremonese at Stadio Giovanni Zini on Sunday at 14:00 GMT in a match that could significantly impact their title race. The Giallorossi will look to continue their strong form and maintain pressure on Inter Milan as they seek to make their dreams come true.
