Gasperini Expresses Surprise At Ranieri Criticism Ahead Of Atalanta Reunion In Rome

Roma head coach Gian Piero Gasperini faces an emotional reunion with Atalanta at the Stadio Olimpico, with tension off the pitch matching the importance of the Serie A clash, after comments from Roma advisor Claudio Ranieri left Gasperini shocked and close to tears during the pre-match press conference.

Roma currently sit sixth in Serie A with six fixtures left, trailing Juventus by three points in the race for the final Champions League position, while visiting Atalanta are seventh and four points further back, meaning Saturday’s match could heavily shape both clubs’ European hopes for next season.

Gasperini took charge of Roma last summer following a successful nine-year spell at Atalanta, where the coach guided the Bergamo club to Europa League

success in 2024, and moved into the role after Ranieri’s stint as interim coach ended and Ranieri accepted an advisory position in the hierarchy.

Relations between Gasperini and Ranieri have cooled after Ranieri suggested Roma were unable to secure their preferred coaching candidate before this campaign, claiming three other managers rejected the role before Gasperini agreed to join, while also rejecting criticism that the new coach received insufficient backing in the transfer market.

There was an interview last Friday, in which Ranieri created some situations, but to me, it was an incredible surprise, Gasperini told reporters. There had never been a different tone between Ranieri and me, both in the press conference and between us. I didn't expect it. And in many years, I had never been subject to such tones.

From that moment, I've avoided any comment, firstly, to not hurt the club, the team or the Roma fans further. We have an important game tomorrow, as we still have a chance for Europe. That's the important thing. I'd be glad if we could only talk about the match.

Gasperini admitted the media fallout was difficult to handle but said the response had been to concentrate on football matters instead, explaining that personal reactions were put aside so attention remained on Roma’s preparation and performance for a match that could define their Champions League ambitions.

I've had to deal with this media impact. But I've shifted the focus entirely to the technical side. I repeat, for me, the priority was not to cause any harm to the team. I expect people to understand this and support the team even more.

#ASRoma pic.twitter.com/7x85crkTYiAS Roma (@OfficialASRoma) April 16, 2026

Roma vs Atalanta: Gasperini future and emotional reunion

Asked whether Gasperini could imagine remaining in Rome beyond this season, the coach declined to discuss his long-term future, stressing that any speculation would distract from preparations for Atalanta and might increase tension around the club at a delicate moment in the campaign.

You keep asking me about other things, but I want to talk about the match. I said I don't want to create problems, and this question creates problems.

When the subject switched to Atalanta, Gasperini grew visibly moved, ending the press conference in tears while describing how Roma once represented a standard for his former side, and how that comparison now feels reversed with Champions League qualification on the line for Roma instead.

When I was at Atalanta, I saw Roma as a benchmark. If we beat Roma, we would reach Europe. Now I see it the other way around: if we beat Atalanta, we deserve to play in the Champions League, he said.

In Rome, there is everything you need to do well. In Bergamo, I succeeded because the environment around me was united, and the club's work was extraordinary. Think about the transfers made and how the money was reinvested. The anomaly of Atalanta was that we were playing in Europe while still making a profit. That was not just thanks to me, but above all to a very capable club, which worked in harmony with the coach.

Roma vs Atalanta: Key players to watch in Serie A clash

Donyell Malen is one of Roma’s main attacking threats, with the forward scoring 10 league goals since arriving during the winter window, a total that matches Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s tally for Milan in 2019-20 and trails only Maxi Lopez’s 11 for Catania in 2009-10 and Mario Balotelli’s 12 for Milan in 2012-13 among mid-season Serie A arrivals.

For Atalanta, Nikola Krstovic leads Serie A for shots per 90 minutes this season, averaging 5.4 attempts, with Malen second on 4.5; Krstovic has fired 83 shots, producing 12.2 expected goals but scoring nine times, showing heavy involvement in attack yet finishing below underlying metrics.

Player	Club	Season	Goals after winter move
Mario Balotelli	Milan	2012-13	12
Maxi Lopez	Catania	2009-10	11
Donyell Malen	Roma	2025-26	10
Zlatan Ibrahimovic	Milan	2019-20	10

Roma vs Atalanta: Form guide and Serie A statistics

Recent meetings favour Atalanta, with Roma losing six of the last seven Serie A clashes between the teams, drawing the other, and suffering defeat in each of the past four league encounters, while Roma have not lost five straight league games against one opponent since a run against Milan from 1988 to 1990.

Gasperini’s Roma have won two of their last three Serie A matches, losing once, matching the number of victories recorded in the previous eight league fixtures, where they posted three draws and three defeats, and the side are targeting a first sequence of consecutive league wins since a January stretch against Lecce, Sassuolo and Torino.

Atalanta, led by Raffaele Palladino, were beaten 1-0 by Juventus in their previous league outing but have not yet experienced back-to-back Serie A defeats under Palladino, although away form remains mixed, with five wins, six draws and four losses from 15 away matches this season.

Team	Away games played	Away wins	Away draws	Away losses
Atalanta	15	5	6	4

Across the last nine Serie A seasons, starting in 2016-17, Atalanta have only once reached a maximum of five away wins after 16 matches, in 2023-24, while Roma have taken 11 victories from 16 home league fixtures this term and are slight favourites to record a 12th home win, something they last achieved in 2016-17 when they finished with 14.

Outcome	Opta win probability
Roma win	40.4%
Atalanta win	32.1%
Draw	27.5%

With Roma slight favourites according to Opta’s model, and both sides still chasing European qualification, the meeting with Atalanta brings together Gasperini’s emotional history in Bergamo, current tensions with Ranieri and a finely balanced tactical contest that could strongly influence the final Serie A standings.