Roma coach Gasperini before Manchester United: ‘Everyone has the right to dream, but we’re short in midfield’
ROME, ITALY - OCTOBER 17: Gian Piero Gasperini, Manager of AS Roma, looks on before the Serie A match between AS Roma and Genoa CFC at Stadio Olimpico on October 17, 2026 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)
Gian Piero Gasperini says Roma will treat struggling Manchester United as if they were at their best, and he admitted his side are short of bodies in midfield before Tuesday’s Champions League clash at Old Trafford.
With quotes via the Corriere dello Sport, the Roma coach spoke at his pre-match press conference in Manchester. Roma travel in high spirits after Saturday’s 5-2 win at Udinese, which left them third, a point off the top. United lost 2-0 at Chelsea that same day, piling more pressure on Michael Carrick.
“In the league they’re going through a difficult period for results, but we can’t let ourselves be distracted,” Gasperini said. “United are still a strong team, they have players of absolute quality, and it’s a hot, difficult environment. We’re preparing as if we’re facing the best Manchester United.”
Asked whether Old Trafford is the “Theatre of Dreams”, he replied: “Everyone has the right to dream. I try to have dreams that can come true soon, starting tomorrow, in a fantastic stadium that’s famous all over the world. I hope it can come true.”
Gasperini on Roma’s injury problems
Gasperini is without Lorenzo Pellegrini, Paulo Dybala and Manu Koné. Primavera youngsters were called up at the weekend to fill out the squad.
“We’re missing Pellegrini, Dybala and Koné in the same departments, so we try to adapt a bit at certain moments. We have Castro as an alternative with Malen, but in midfield we’re short. I hope it’s just a passing phase,” he said.
“We’ve played these seven games on a knife-edge, but we’ve always had well-prepared players who recovered quickly. Mora? He’s fine, the 17 players we have are all ready. After the international break we hope to have everyone back. It’s difficult this week.”
He also praised his wing-backs. “Lulli? Wesley is also doing very well in that position. Molina needed to play, and Rensch has done very well too. It’s draining for them, they cover a lot of ground with acceleration and speed.”
On how hard it is to be perfect: “Perfection doesn’t exist, not for the big teams and not for us. Our quality is that we always try to improve. We know our characteristics, but we know we can do better in some situations.”
Asked about Carrick’s difficult spell, and whether it compared with his short stay at Inter in 2011, Gasperini said: “Every situation is different. I don’t know United’s exactly, but I know they have strong players. You can suffer for a certain period, but then you manage to restart. Hopefully from the day after tomorrow!
“The comparison with me at Inter? I really wasn’t there long, three games, so I wouldn’t make that comparison.”
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