Gasperini: “Dybala’s injury is more serious than expected.”
· Yahoo Sports
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After the impressive win against Genoa, Gian Piero Gasperini’s Roma are embarking on a crucial week.
First, they face Slovan Bratislava in the Champions League at the Olimpico, followed by the away game against Napoli on Saturday at 6:00 PM, which could see Massimiliano Allegri’s departure.
“Slovan? They’re definitely a dynamic team, and they’re definitely well-prepared in terms of athleticism. They also have some excellent players. It’s clear that they’re not among the top teams in the Champions League, but in every Champions League match, it’s tough. We certainly won’t underestimate our opponents, especially because we need to win tomorrow to boost our chances of progressing.”
“Malen and Castro together? Given their characteristics, it could even be a match where they can play together. I don’t know if from the start, I don’t know if, perhaps during the match, eventually. I absolutely don’t want to distort the geometry and play of a team that’s scoring goals, creating so many chances, just for the sake of showing two players together, playing together. There’s an attacking line that works, with different characteristics, and so for now it’s fine as it is. I don’t need to look for other solutions. Then again, it could be, it could be, because it’s the type of match that could also lend itself to this.”
“The midfield? Right now, Pisilli and de Roon, especially de Roon, are playing. He’s played three games in a week. And then nothing, Lorenzo can be a more attacking player, as he’s always been used, or he can also be a midfielder, waiting for at least a player like Cristante to recover, who, for Napoli, we hope can be on the pitch. Or at least available.”
“For Dybala, we hoped his recovery would be a little quicker, but the latest MRI he had yesterday also revealed a minor injury, which will therefore make his recovery a little longer, a couple of extra weeks, I think.”
“Lulli? I actually noticed him last year and called him up to the first team training sessions several times, but he has some very high-level athletic qualities. You’re always struck by something that’s above average. His speed and endurance at that speed have always been top-notch compared to the average, not to mention Serie A, among footballers. On that note, he’s a very humble guy, a guy who’s eager to grow, to improve, and he’ll work hard on both his technical and tactical aspects. He’s very young, and he has a thousand things he can grow in, train, and improve on. However, he also has a couple of qualities that are decidedly above average, and when these situations arise, you have to take them to the next level.”
“Gollini has always been an excellent goalkeeper. Yes, I don’t know, eight or nine years ago we played in important championships together and reached the Champions League; he even played in the Champions League together. Perhaps throughout his career, he lacked a bit of maturity—at that time, but understandably so—which he’s perhaps achieved now at a slightly older age. But sometimes it happens with young players too, in the sense that he’s always had excellent skills, perhaps he didn’t have the same dedication, the same desire to improve that he has now. He’s proving himself to be a good goalkeeper even now. Mora has given a lot of effort; in short, he’s not a player who fits into rotation; he’s part of rotation. When he’s been available, he’s always played. He has a unique physique, in the sense that he’s still quite small, but also very young, but also a talent that’s immediately evident. And so we need to develop him. He, unlike perhaps others, still needs to grow a bit physically and get a bit more structured, because technically and qualitatively he’s top-notch.”