Gasperini: ‘Roma want to start where we left off, Mourinho has something special’
TURIN, ITALY - SEPTEMBER 14: Gian Piero Gasperini, Manager of AS Roma, looks on during the Serie A match between Torino FC and AS Roma at Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino on September 14, 2026 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images)
Roma head coach Gian Piero Gasperini says that he hopes Roma pick up where they left off once Serie A action resumes this weekend, and says that Jose Mourinho still has that ‘special’ something about him ahead of his return to the Stadio Olimpico with Real Madrid in the Champions League.
Gasperini on Roma’s Serie A return, Real Madrid test and Dybala/Cristante conditions
Roma went into the international break sitting at the top of the Serie A standings with an unbeaten record of four wins and one draw after five league matches of the 2026-27 campaign.
The Giallorossi scored 10 goals across their first three league games of the season after 4-0 victories over Fiorentina and Lecce and a 2-1 win against Atalanta. They have also beaten Torino 2-0 and have most recently drawn 2-2 against reigning champions Inter.
Since then, there has been an abnormally long international break, featuring four Nations League fixtures instead of the usual two for European sides, which means that Gasperini has allowed a few days of holiday for his players who were not called up to their national teams.
“We had a pretty small number of players and couldn’t play any friendlies, so we went for continuity with the work that we did in the first week and then took a few days off,” Gasperini explained in an interview with Sky Sport Italia on Monday.
“Today is the last day of holiday, and from tomorrow we will get back into the league mentality, which we left during a great period of results and performances. We want to start where we left off.”
Gasperini went on to explain the reasons behind his early success with Roma.
“There have been lots of small factors, starting with the fact that I inherited a group that gave me their availability from the very first training session. The team had had a good end to the previous season, but the players immediately showed a willingness to explore different paths and different types of football.
“I also had the trust from the club. I’ve been appreciated by a club that initially brought me in as an opponent and rival. There was even a bit of scepticism. Gaining the appreciation of the Roma supporters has been a great success for me, I’m truly grateful.”
Gasperini was asked where the differences lie between Roma and Atalanta, and specifically between the two ownership groups: The Friedkins and the Percassis.
“The Percassi family was there on a daily basis, we had a close relationship that went beyond football,” said Gasperini. “It doesn’t happen like that with the Friedkin family, but I always feel their trust and support, even if they live a long way away.
“Now they’ve added a new CEO who acts as a link between them and Roma. The goal is to be able to involve them much more, not just for me, but also for them and for the fans. I’d like to bring them back a little more, especially in view of the centenary and the construction of the new stadium, for which they will give a lot of money. I want them to be close to the team and the supporters.”
Roma have a tricky run of fixtures immediately after the international break, beginning with a trip to Como before a visit from Mourinho and Real Madrid in the Champions League next Wednesday.
Looking ahead to the Como match, Gasperini said: “Anyone who watches football appreciates the evolution of their team, the quality of players they have and the quality of the games they play.
“Inter are still the strongest in terms of their squad and results, but Como can fight up there along with the rest of them. I’ve seen Fabregas say he uses subbuteo to explain how to attack with depth. I have to use it to figure out how to stop him.”
And looking ahead to former Roma coach Mourinho’s return to the Stadio Olimpico next week, Gasperini said: “Jose is, rightly, a special one and he manages to find success on and off the pitch. He won the Conference League and reached a Europa League final with Roma. He might have done a bit less in the league, but most of the fans still appreciate him. That means he has something special.”
The Giallorossi may have to do without midfielder Cristante for the Roma and Como matches, though, following his withdrawal from the Italy national team at the start of the camp.
“Bryan is recovering, he has a problem with the collateral ligament in his knee. He’s being treated for it, but it’s not yet been confirmed whether he’ll miss Como and Real Madrid. We definitely won’t take any risks. The main goal is to have him back in his best condition.”
Top scorer Donyell Malen also had to withdraw from the Netherlands squad at the start of the international break.
Gasperini says: “Malen has to recover from his knee problem. Dybala has been training as well as he has done from the start of July, I’m very happy for him. He’s a great guy who feels at his best when he plays well on the pitch. He was born with the ball at his feet. The fact that he had to miss a bit of training and some games upset him, but now I think he’s happy.”
Gasperini also fielded questions on Lionel Messi’s retirement from the Argentina national team.
Roma have three current Argentina internationals in Leonardo Balerdi, Matias Soule and Santiago Castro, but the club faced some backlash for their decision to not allow Dybala or Nahuel Molina to attend Messi’s final match with the Argentina national team.
“Messi’s farewell will be emotional,” said Gasperini. “Personally, I’ve seen lots of star players, initially as a player myself and then as a coach, but it’s hard to think of anyone who’s achieved what Lionel has. I’m sorry to see his career with the Albiceleste come to an end.
“We are too close to an important game like our one on Sunday [to let Dybala and Molina fly to and from Argentina]. We’re a long way from Argentina and sending them there would have meant making them fly for a lot of hours so close to the match and Roma preferred for that not to happen.”
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