“There aren’t any other situations, they’re all recovered. I’m never in favor of a large rotation. Especially in this period, we need to play consistently and establish the game situations we’re improving in. The team is performing better game by game. It’s not a physical issue, especially because we played on Wednesday; when you’re fit, you can play. However, there are five substitutions that are important and ensure we have a fresh team. There could be something because we also play next Thursday
and Sunday. My intention, however, is not to make major changes to the team, and the substitutions help.”
With that, Gian Piero Gasperini ruled out any major turnover ahead of Roma’s home match against Hellas Verona on Sunday. That’s especially true in defense, where he shot down the idea of seeing youngster Daniele Ghilardi or Jan Ziolkowski starting soon.
“They’re doing well, their time will come. Their misfortune is that they have players up front who are doing something remarkable, and I always look at the team. Mancini, Ndicka, Hermoso, and Celik are very effective, and the team is always the most important thing.”
He also seemed to rule out resting any of his center backs by playing a back four with just two central defenders.
“It’s true in both situations; you can rotate between a midfielder and one of the defenders. Mancini himself, just the player’s characteristics change a little, but the progression is the same. When you’ve been there for a long time, it’s easier to change some things, while now we need to find certainties, like the insertion of the defenders. Games like tomorrow’s are dangerous; it’s a different type of game. If you’re sterile and lack strength and can’t create any danger, you risk losing. These teams have fast players who shoot very well. However, tomorrow we’re coming off the derby victory and our European debut. We need to be enthusiastic and play at a different pace.”
Moving up the pitch, Gasperini was asked about Kostas Tsimikas, who is expected to move to the bench in favor of Angeliño for this one.
“It’s not a problem whether he or Angelino plays. It will be a problem whether Roma does well or poorly. Tsimikas played at Liverpool… it can’t be a problem whether someone starts or not. Who comes on at the end to decide the match, then, is a reserve? Tsimikas has shown he’s ready straight away; he’s a very useful player. We’re fortunate to have two good players on the left.”
In midfield, Koné and Cristante are expected to return to the XI. They’ll play behind the attacking midfield pairing of Matías Soulé and the revived Lorenzo Pellegrini, whom Gasperini also spoke of.
“The club is happy when players perform well. Pellegrini provided the most significant response. He performed well in the derby, but not just because of the goal. But if we think the problem is solved, we’re wrong. He needs to rediscover his consistency, strength, character, and personality. And those are characteristics he has. He needs to join the group of those 8 or 9 players I mentioned earlier.”
Gasperini refused to declare a clear number one at striker, but Ferguson is expected to start this one up top.
“Neither of them, they’re always competing. It depends on the period and the games we play. Dovbyk is growing athletically. His growth depends on this because he needs to be in great physical condition to mask some of the technical difficulties he’s having at the moment.”
Probable Formation
ROMA (3-4-2-1): Svilar; Ndicka, Mancini, Hermoso; Angeliñ0, Koné, Cristante, Wesley; Pellegrini, Soulé; Ferguson.
