After last weekend, Matias Soulé and his teammates sit alone at the top: the last time this happened was under Rudi Garcia, more than ten years ago. And all of this has been made possible thanks to the extraordinary work of Gasperini. The former Atalanta coach is once again proving he belongs among the very best.
He has already made a huge impact, leaving a clear mark on the team’s identity. He is getting the most out of his squad, not only from Soulé, who would deserve a chapter of his own, but also from Lorenzo Pellegrini, who seemed on the verge of leaving, and Wesley, Mario Hermoso, Zeki Celik, just to name a few. Pellegrini and Soulé are undoubtedly talented players, but the speed and precision with which Gasperini has shaped their roles is remarkable.
Even the most optimistic Romanista could not have imagined something like this. Every Roma supporter was ready for a period of adjustment.
Well ahead of schedule
The general feeling was: “We are prepared to wait, this is a long term project. A slow start is no problem”, but that slow start never came. Roma are top of the league on their own, and next weekend they will face Antonio Conte’s Napoli with the chance to widen the gap between them and the Azzurri. It is incredible, and it is without doubt the surprise of the season so far.
On Sunday, against Cremonese, the Giallorossi won 1 to 3 thanks to goals from Soulé, Ferguson, and Wesley, three players who perfectly represent Gasperini’s influence. Soulé, the Argentine, has been Roma’s best player for months, ever since that free kick in February that seemed to unlock his potential. Now he is leading the team match after match.
Without Paulo Dybala, he has been free to move across the pitch, shoot from distance, and occupy the areas usually controlled by his friend, the number 21. The second goal came from Evan Ferguson, finally back on the scoresheet. Gasperini is working hard with him: the coach insists the Irish striker needs more confidence, more than anything else. His goal against Cremonese, and the way he celebrated it, could become a key moment for both him and the team.
Wesley impact
Roma need him and they need his goals. The third goal was scored by Wesley, the player Gasperini pushed for relentlessly during the summer. Roma paid a high fee to sign him from Flamengo, especially for a young right back with no experience in European football. Yet Gasperini insisted, and now the Brazilian is thriving on the left, playing as the winger Roma never managed to sign.
Gasperini wanted Jadon Sancho, but it is safe to say that missing out on him has become a blessing in disguise for them. Wesley’s goal against Cremonese was the perfect example of what Gasperini envisioned, which is why he called it a turning point. Another symbol of the coach’s work is Lorenzo Pellegrini. The number 7 is back at a high level again. He even scored against Cremonese, though the goal was ruled out for offside. It would have been his third in three matches. Gasperini revived him, showing faith in his ability, and Pellegrini is repaying him with leadership and consistently strong performances.
Under Gasperini, many Roma players are improving or performing at their peak, Celik is another example, and the team sit two points clear of Milan and Napoli with 25 points. The coach said that it is right to dream when a team plays like this, and the Giallorossi fans are indeed dreaming of something that, just three months ago, would have been unimaginable. Is that not what football is all about?