Gasperini: Roma Showed 'Our Best and Worst' in Europa League Defeat

Gian Piero Gasperini admitted that AS Roma displayed both their peak performance and significant shortcomings during their Europa League elimination by Bologna. He also pointed to the lack of available alternatives, confessing he had dreamed of replicating certain attacking strategies from his time at Atalanta.

The Giallorossi found themselves constantly playing catch-up throughout the tie. After a 1-1 draw in the first leg, they dramatically fought back from a 3-1 deficit in the second leg, with goals from Evan Ndicka, Donyell Malen, and Lorenzo Pellegrini forcing the game into extra time. However, it was Bologna's Nicolò Cambiaghi, introduced with fresh legs, who ultimately sealed a 4-3 victory on the night and a 5-4 aggregate win for his team.

Gasperini Frustrated with Roma's Highs and Lows

Speaking to Sky Sport Italia, Gasperini described the match as fascinating but admitted to immense regret. "We displayed our best and our worst tonight," he commented. "Our best was evident for almost the entire game, but our worst showed in the goals we conceded. This forced us into a constant chase for a comeback, despite performing many excellent actions. It's truly a shame to make such errors after such a performance."

Bologna's early 3-1 lead stemmed from defensive miscues, with Gasperini specifically criticizing Gianluca Mancini's reaction after an altercation with Rowe for the first goal. "Mancini remained on the ground after a jersey tug, leaving Rowe free to advance," Gasperini explained. "It was an unusual situation, and unfortunately, we acted naively."

This defeat prolongs Roma's challenging period, marking five competitive matches without a win and seeing them drop from fourth to sixth in the Serie A standings. Gasperini acknowledged the mounting pressure and fatigue typical of this stage of the season. "This team possesses spirit," he remarked, "as they conceded a penalty just before halftime, then fought back from 3-1 down, giving us the feeling that momentum was on our side. However, when you commit mistakes like these, losing the game becomes an inevitable outcome."

Despite Manu Koné's early injury, Gasperini utilized only two substitutions in regular time and four out of a possible six overall (including extra time's bonus slot). He explained that his attacking options were severely hampered by the absence of key players like Paulo Dybala, Matias Soulé, Artem Dovbyk, and Evan Ferguson, with Lorenzo Venturino also ineligible for the UEFA list. "In extra time, fatigue was a factor, but we couldn't make further changes while Bologna introduced three quick and fresh attackers, making it very difficult," he stated. "It's clear that missing four or five players from the same area of the squad will lead to difficulties in the long run." He did, however, commend the impact of new signing Malen, who has significantly sharpened Roma's attack. Gasperini concluded by noting that while the team had diverse goal scorers earlier in the season, the fundamental issue of limited attacking options has persisted since the season's start.

Having previously won the Europa League with Atalanta, Gasperini admitted the transition to Roma has presented stark differences, including internal tensions regarding squad formation. "I arrived at Roma dreaming of replicating specific attacking dynamics," he revealed, "but due to injuries and the inability to acquire players with the necessary attributes, we haven't quite achieved that. Nevertheless, my players have consistently shown immense effort, and that was evident tonight." He added, "Considering our performances against Como and Bologna over the past week or so, I cannot fault my players too much; they delivered strong performances."

Robinio Vaz, another January acquisition, also impressed after coming off the bench, creating constant problems for Jhon Lucumi and even winning a penalty. Gasperini commented on Vaz: "He is undoubtedly very young and represents a significant investment, which brings considerable expectation. He requires time to develop, but he possesses vibrancy and strength and can be useful. However, to aspire to higher achievements, you need players with greater experience and established pedigree."