Gian Piero Gasperini did not hide his anger following a dismal 3-0 defeat for Roma against Brighton and Hove Albion. The manager admitted that he is currently unsure if his squad is stronger than it was last season, citing significant challenges during the summer transfer window. The loss to Brighton marks a low point in a difficult pre-season that has seen the Giallorossi concede 11 goals across four matches.
Reflecting on the match, Gasperini was blunt, stating, “It was without doubt a horrible performance today.” He noted that while the team had enjoyed a positive atmosphere in training throughout the week, they failed to function as a cohesive unit on the pitch, lacking both concentration and sharpness. The coach also highlighted that several players are still recovering from their involvement in the World Cup, which has left the squad feeling drained and behind schedule.
The pre-season results have been largely disappointing for Roma. Aside from a 4-1 win over Newport County—a match Gasperini suggested was not a true test of their capabilities—the team drew 3-3 with Cannes after squandering a three-goal lead and suffered a 4-1 loss to Cardiff City. Their final pre-season fixture is scheduled against Borussia Dortmund on Saturday, August 15.
Gasperini expressed deep frustration regarding the slow pace of reinforcements, particularly following the club's qualification for the Champions League. He voiced his irritation toward the club's management, including new transfer chief Tony D’Amico, noting the difficulty of working in a market where the squad has too few players. “If you just look at the numbers, I feel like we still need something,” Gasperini remarked. He pointed to specific moves, such as replacing Zeki Celik with Nahuel Molina and Artem Dovbyk with Santiago Castro, while also mentioning the arrival of Konstantinos Koulierakis to bolster the defensive line. Despite these efforts, the manager remains concerned that the team is not yet ready for the upcoming campaign.
“Yes, but when can he start playing? Not for at least a month, so there’s no point talking about that now,” replied the coach.
“As always, the transfer window begins on July 1, but it all gets decided in the final 15 days of August. It’s not right, that’s when teams are already working and getting ready. It’s a problem for everyone.”
