Roma-Genoa, Gasperini su Dybala and Ferguson

Collaborator

December 28 – 2.31pm – MILANO

The transfer market is close, but it is above all De Rossi’s Genoa at the gates that worries Gian Piero Gasperini given the three defeats in Roma’s last four league matches. The Giallorossi coach urges us not to let our guard down: “De Rossi has given courage to Genoa and this is an important quality in football and beyond. It’s a team that knows how to recover and fight, they held up against Atalanta by playing number 10 for the entire match. The league table is difficult for them and to beat them we would have to scrape the barrel. We absolutely need to win at the moment”.

DOVBYK-FERGUSON

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To do this, Gasp will not be able to count on Dovbyk. “He is not ready yet and will not be called up – specifies the coach -. I hope he will be next week. He is training but is not yet able to kick. Hermoso is also not yet at his best, he has some sort of groin pain. We will evaluate him in these hours whether he can play or not from the first minute”. There is also little hope for Ferguson but for other reasons after the public rejection a week ago. Gasperini returns to those phrases: “I have already explained that Dybala is a player of the highest level, the comparison was between him and Ferguson and I confirm what I said. But it is not an attack on Ferguson, it becomes difficult for me to find a player of this quality. If I have to choose between the two of them I will choose Dybala, it seems clear to me. Ferguson must do a good thing now, given that he is 21 years old he must put it on the level of hunger, desire and knowing where he is. Use these weapons to recover the place since technically it’s not like Paulo.” So there’s still room for Dybala on the false nine? “In some cases it was the only solution, but I think he can do very well in that role – reiterates Gasperini -. When he has physical difficulties playing as an attacking midfielder is even worse. If Paulo is well the value of the attack increases and for this reason I insist on him. I hope he can recover optimal physical form”

MARKET

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For Gasperini it is also a return to the past. “It was a long experience, they were eight wonderful years. For me Genoa remains an important piece of life. From Serie C we went to Europe, there was a special president like Preziosi with whom however I had an excellent relationship. Today’s Genoa has many interesting young people, not just Frendrup. They always valorise some player. Pisilli at Genoa? He found little space in Rome due to the excellent performances of those who were in the starting lineup, but I have an excellent reputation for him. If he can do it here I’m happy, in this moment is not feasible given that I only have three midfielders.” The transfer market is a recurring theme but Gasperini prefers to dribble: “It will start on January 3 and I don’t want to go back to talking about the summer transfer market. But let’s not forget that the attack already had some problems and lost Shomurodov and Saelemaekers. Chivu says that the transfer market has an influence? He’s right, it’s not respectful of the players who give everything and risks taking away concentration. We coaches are against letting it last so long, we talk more about the transfer market than the matches. Then I don’t believe much in the transfer market January”. In the meantime, however, Pellegrini will also be missing: “Lorenzo’s loss is a big loss for us even if he has dropped a bit in the last few games – concludes Gasp -. I don’t know the timing of the transfer market but now we are entering a phase of 9 games in a month and if we also include players in the African Cup it becomes difficult. They will all have to give something more. We don’t need character or attitude from the transfer market, this team has it and it also demonstrated it in Turin with Juve”.