After the victory in Florence, the coach commented: `We had space to counter, but fatigue was setting in, and we managed the game well. Ferguson had an ankle issue and couldn`t play.`
AS Roma`s head coach Gian Piero Gasperini reacts during the UEFA Europa League league phase match between OGC Nice and AS Roma, in Nice, France, 24 September 2025.
AS Roma firmly holds its top position, celebrating a victory in Florence, a feat not achieved since 2021. This win was particularly significant, not only following a cup loss to Lille but also marking Dybala`s return to the field. Post-match, Gian Piero Gasperini openly expressed his satisfaction. He stated, “I`m very happy for the fans and the team; this first place is a great reward for their performances. Some still don`t give us credit for being here, but this team achieves results while also improving in terms of quality and enjoyment. I`m genuinely delighted for them. Now we head into the break with greater confidence, and we know exactly what we still need to improve. I reiterate: the recognition we receive isn`t very high, perhaps rightly so. We`re enjoying the moment, but we`re not talking about grand objectives.”
Gasperini on penalties: “Three missed penalties in a row? Never seen anything like it. And about the penalty takers…”
The Risks
In the second half, Roma endured more pressure than necessary, failing to capitalize on the open spaces created by a Fiorentina team pushing aggressively for an equalizer. The Viola certainly had their chances. “We had inviting spaces, and we should have exploited them better,” Gasperini admitted. “However, we were also tired and fatigued, so we tried to manage the game as best as possible. We faced a significant risk with Gosens, more so than Piccoli`s crossbar shot. Set-pieces are a strength for us, but now we need to improve our penalties,” he added with a laugh.
Dybala`s Role
Dybala`s introduction significantly aided Roma`s management of the second half, though the contribution from the number nine position was still lacking. Gasperini concluded, “Dybala and Pellegrini are our most technically gifted players. They were excellent at disrupting Fiorentina`s momentum and maintaining possession well. Fiorentina played with three forwards, and thanks to our ball control, we were able to break their attacking rhythm. Ferguson? He had an ankle problem sustained against Lille and couldn`t play. Paulo only returned on Friday, but he never loses his technical ability and is useful even for a short period. That said, for me, he needs to play with a striker ahead of him; this was an emergency situation.”
