While it would have been nice if Roma had won tonight’s Coppa Italia Round of 16 match against Torino, the real test for Torino comes on Saturday, when the sides face off at the other Stadio Olimpico in a critical Round 21 fixture. Given the heavy squad rotation in today’s match and the relatively lighter consequences, we can take this defeat with a grain of salt—but it is a defeat nonetheless.
Still, despite bowing out of the Coppa, Roma can hold their heads high, having clawed back twice before
falling 3-2 to Torino due to defensive lapses at crucial moments. With a heavily rotated squad and several players deployed out of position, the performance highlighted the challenges facing Gasperini: balancing immediate results with long-term development.
“This match stayed open, and we could have won it,” Gasperini reflected afterward. “The boys recovered twice, and before that final phase, we thought we were going to penalties.” His assessment captured the dual narrative: disappointment in the result, but optimism in the performance.
Much of the spotlight fell on Roma’s youngest talents, with Jan Ziolkowski and Daniele Ghilardi starting in defense. However, 16-year-old Antonio Arena stole the show, scoring on his first touch in his top-flight career. “At that age, to come on and score — maybe he’s destined,” said Gasperini.
Despite losing the match and dropping out of the Coppa Italia after only one match, Gasperini gave a shout-out to his backline, highlighting their versatility and interchangeability. “These three can rotate depending on the match, and Celik sometimes plays as a fullback, sometimes as a fifth. Step by step, we’re finding more resources in attack as well.”
While Roma’s rotation and youth focus drew praise, Gasperini also emphasized the need to balance immediate results with long-term planning. “It’s evident that in some situations we’re a bit short, and we have to understand whether we’re focusing on being competitive now or on long-term growth. Either way, we just need to be clear,” he said.
Roma’s recovery in both halves showed a team capable of fighting back, even if finishing remains a work in progress. “We’ve made improvements in our play, with speed and combination after the goal,” he noted. “We’re growing, we have more solutions, and substitutions often give us results. It’s definitely a good moment.”
In the end, the result was a tough lesson. But the emergence of young players like Arena, Ziolkowski, and Ghilardi signals that this Roma side is building toward something bigger. As Gasperni emphasized, the spirit shown tonight — especially by young players and those asked to step into unfamiliar roles — bodes well for the future.
