TRENTO - Gian Piero Gasperini has assessed Roma's strong start to the season, singling out the revival of Paulo Dybala and the impact of Donyell Malen. The Giallorossi manager spoke at the Festival dello Sport in Trento, discussing a side that leads Serie A with 13 points and has found its top scorer in Malen, who has six goals in five appearances.
Dybala's return
Gasperini detailed the process that brought Dybala back to elite levels. "In my long career I have coached many strong players and Dybala is among the top," the coach stated. According to the manager, the Argentine forward overcame a phase where he was advised to preserve himself, which instead led to injuries. The approach changed with specific on-field work that improved his physical endurance. Dybala now finishes matches among the freshest players and has started taking on defenders again, contributing to an extraordinary start to the campaign. His current condition is a cornerstone for the club's ambitions in its second centenary.
The Malen opportunity
Another focal point was Donyell Malen, who arrived from Aston Villa. Gasperini highlighted how the Dutch striker represented a tactical opportunity perfectly seized by the club. "Near the box he is deadly. I did not think his numbers could be so striking, though," the coach admitted, referring to the six goals that make him the team's top scorer. Gasperini has always considered Malen a pure centre-forward, blessed with decisive speed and a three-touch game: move, control, shoot. If he were to reach 30 goals, Gasperini would not be surprised and would be happy. The signing has proven key for an attack that has already scored 14 league goals.
Context and the future
The discussion broadened to the rest of the squad and the club's project. Gasperini praised the tactical intelligence of Bryan Cristante, who can adapt to different roles with a deep understanding of the game. Another key topic for the manager is the new stadium, which has received definitive approval and represents a work of beauty important for the Roma community. Looking at the centenary, Gasperini reiterated the importance of carrying forward the club's history. On the sporting front, while acknowledging Inter as the strongest team in Italy, he noted how in the recent 2-2 draw Roma felt they had closed part of the gap. The team, unbeaten in its last five matches, will now face Como away on October 11th, a fixture that opens a run of games visible on the fixtures calendar.
This story first appeared at Sky Sport IT
