Gian Piero Gasperini underlined the resilience, maturity and growth AS Roma continue to show on the European stage after his side’s goalless draw with Panathinaikos was enough to seal qualification for the UEFA Europa League Round of 16.
Speaking with the calm confidence of a manager who has seen his team navigate adversity before, Gasperini stressed that character and mentality have long been hallmarks of his squad.
He acknowledged that conceding in the manner they did, from a costly back-pass, tested their composure, yet once again Roma found a way to respond.
In typical match-flow fashion, he highlighted how set-pieces often become decisive in such moments, with Jan Ziolkowski eventually delivering after earlier warning signs.
“I have to say that they’ve always showed these skills,” the manager said. “You can say many things about us, but from this point of view, this team has always been outstanding, ever since the very beginning.
“Whoever they play against, these things are never lacking. Then of course it also comes down to some key moments, because conceding the way we did, with a back-pass, was a tough one to take.
“The best scenario to try to equalise was a set-piece, a long throw-in, which is what happened in the end, even though [Jan] Ziolkowski, who had already come close to scoring earlier in the game, did an excellent job. He really scored a great goal.”
As the conversation shifted gears, Gasperini also addressed the ongoing debate about trusting young players in high-pressure situations.
Rather than seeing it as a risk, he framed it as a natural process built on the presence of experienced leaders within the dressing room, players who pass on standards, belief and professionalism by example.
“Maybe it’s because I’ve been doing this for ages, but I’d say no. I’ve always been fortunate enough to have a very responsible core group, both in Bergamo and here in Rome.”
An extraordinary core group that always believes in young players and offers words of encouragement.
“In a way they pass on their own DNA, and apart from what I can do, they truly are role models for these young players: they are a source of confidence and professionalism.”
When asked whether Roma should now be considered among the tournament’s frontrunners, Gasperini played it down, instead focusing on development and momentum.
He even suggested that playing extra matches would not have been a setback, but rather another opportunity for growth, had injuries not been a concern.
“I don’t know whether we are or not. In fact, it wouldn’t have been that much of a disappointment if we had had to go through the play-offs, because our matches have helped us grow.
“We have certainly improved by playing many games. We’ve become more confident and all the players have become very motivated. It wouldn’t have been a problem.”
He added: “I sometimes hear things that are just over the top: the prospect of not qualifying for the Round of 16 was seen as a defeat.
“Playing two additional matches certainly would not have been a problem. In fact, it would’ve been an opportunity to strengthen our squad depth.
“Our only problem is the number of injuries. When you play many games, you end up with more injuries, and that’s the only negative aspect of it.
“Apart from that, today too, I saw a very different team for the first 10 minutes, but they held their own very well and immediately created some chances, by playing with momentum and great personality.
“If it were up to me, I’d play a lot more games and do a lot less training. The players too sometimes prefer playing to training [laughs].”
The 68-year-old gaffer also reflected on Roma’s recent habit of fighting back in difficult matches, pointing to their comeback performances in both domestic and European competition, while acknowledging that scoring efficiency has dipped despite a healthy chance-creation rate.
“We’d already come from behind twice against Torino in Coppa Italia and once in the Europa League: lately we haven’t scored much, but we’ve had a two-goal average for some time now. And we’ve been creating many more chances too.
“Tonight’s game was clearly tough because all teams now exploit the other team’s one-man disadvantage, so they pull your defender out of position, force you to shift across constantly and track back with your forwards; this leaves their midfielders with the time and space to pick out the strikers. It makes everything much harder.”
With qualification secured, Roma march on, battle-tested, mentally sharp and increasingly comfortable with the demands of Europe’s knockout stages.
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