Roma coach Gian Piero Gasperini attributed the team’s first Champions League qualification in seven years to a significant improvement following Donyell Malen’s signing in January. He described Malen’s arrival as a “huge leap forward” for the Giallorossi.
Roma secured their top-four finish with a victory at the Stadio Bentegodi, though it took time to break the deadlock against a relegated Verona side. Donyell Malen’s penalty was initially saved, but Paulo Dybala followed up to score on the rebound. Stephan El Shaarawy later sealed the win in stoppage time during his final match for the club.
Gasperini reflected on the challenging match, stating, “It was a wonderful evening, a difficult one, as Verona have fought hard lately against everyone, and paradoxically we struggled more when they went down to 10 men.” He added, “Perhaps there was tension, the pressure to finish off the game, so we didn’t create many chances, then didn’t take them, leaving the risk that something might happen.”
The club’s return to the Champions League after a seven-year hiatus marks a significant achievement, with Como also qualifying for the tournament. Despite a period of crisis following a heavy defeat to Inter, Roma rallied to win six of their next seven games.
Gasperini praised the team’s dedication: “From the start, this group worked really hard, you could see they wanted to have a season at the highest level, which was gratifying. We started well, won over some critics, but above all gained credibility with our fans, seeing the stadium always packed.” He emphasized the strong connection with the supporters as a driving force.
Despite initial doubts from other coaches, Gasperini maintained his focus on a top-four finish. He noted, “I see the way these lads work, and despite some bad results in the head-to-head matches, we got the feeling we were growing and getting closer.”
He reiterated the importance of Malen’s arrival, acknowledging that “Malen obviously gave us a huge leap forward.” However, he also pointed to the challenges faced due to injuries to key players like Dybala, Soule, and Dovbyk, which limited attacking options. Gasperini recalled the team’s belief that “to get into the Champions League, we needed a run of six or seven victories in a row,” a feat they ultimately achieved by saving their best form for the crucial final stretch of the season.
Roma and Como will represent Italy in the Champions League, surpassing established clubs like Juventus and Milan. Gasperini also expressed happiness for Como’s success, calling them “a pleasure to watch.”