Gasperini: Roma's Improvement Evident; Balerdi's Potential Echoes Baresi; Inter Awaits

Gian Piero Gasperini acknowledged Donyell Malen and Paulo Dybala's impact, noting their ability to create chances consistently. He also drew parallels between defender Leonardo Balerdi and legendary Franco Baresi, suggesting Balerdi possesses similar qualities in his interpretation of the defensive role and game involvement. Gasperini believes Roma can now "measure up against the best" as they prepare to face Inter next week.

Roma has maintained a perfect record in Serie A with four wins from their initial four matches, recovering from a midweek draw in the Champions League against Fenerbahce.

Donyell Malen has been a consistent scorer, netting his sixth goal in the first four league games. Niccolò Pisilli secured the 2-0 victory against Torino with a late goal.

“It’s fantastic for the fans and anyone who loves football to see champions like Malen and Dybala playing together, consistently creating opportunities,” Gasperini told DAZN Italia. “They are two exceptionally talented individuals who complement each other. Their synergy leads to many goals.”

Malen’s substitution early in the second half, with the score at 1-0, drew attention. Gasperini explained, “We need everyone in the squad to elevate their performance. This was our third game in eight days, and it’s unsustainable for players to complete 90 minutes regularly. Giving them 20-30 minutes of rest can be beneficial in the long term. We also need players following champions like Dybala and Malen to step up and be ready to make an impact. This strengthens the entire team.”

Several changes were made to the starting lineup compared to the Istanbul match, including the first starts for summer acquisitions Leonardo Balerdi and Nahuel Molina.

“I felt we had a strong first half, though our final third play could have been sharper. Torino also brought on fresh players, so at times we need to adapt our style to be less about flair and more about effectiveness. Being able to do both is crucial,” the Roma coach stated.

“Balerdi is a robust, modern defender, physically strong and quick. Franco Baresi was the greatest defender ever, and I’m not making a direct comparison, but Balerdi’s interpretation of the role and his involvement in play share those characteristics. Of course, Baresi is unmatched, but Balerdi is that type of defender.”

Roma now enters Saturday’s Serie A clash with the reigning champions, Inter, in a strong position. The match is already being viewed as a potential Scudetto decider.

“We have a few days to prepare. Last season, there was a significant difference between the teams, particularly after our heavy defeat in the return fixture. However, that game marked the emergence of the ‘real Roma,’ leading to improvements in results, attitude, and mentality thereafter.

“Inter is undoubtedly the benchmark in this league, recognized by everyone as the best team in Italy, though I think Como is also approaching that level,” Gasperini concluded.

“This is an opportunity for us to test ourselves against the best and demonstrate that we can perform better than in recent outings.”