ROME, ITALY – OCTOBER 17: AS Roma manager Gian Piero Gasperini 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 had “no doubt” that Roma would react well to Real Madrid’s 2-0 win over Genoa. “To lose that way was devastating because the performance was so good.”
The Giallorossi were feeling the pressure after disappointing results in Serie A, including back-to-back draws with Inter and Como, but above all, they blew a 3-1 lead to lose 4-3 to Real Madrid on Wednesday night.
It took some time to break down Daniele De Rossi’s Genoa, but Roma pulled away with the points thanks to Santiago Castro and youth product Emanuele Lulli’s first goals in the second half.
It was 300c Gasperini’s Serie A win and the best Roma start of 12 years in Serie A.
Gasperini had no doubts about “Roma”.
“It was not an easy match because it was very difficult for Genoa to win with long balls, especially in the first half,” Gasperini told Sky Sport Italia.
“We played better after the break and there was a very young squad, but I have to say they were excellent. We won a very important match.”
Roma made seven changes to the side that started against Real Madrid in midweek, although some were forced by injuries to Paulo Dybala, Manu Kone, Mile Svilar and Bryan Cristante, plus a one-match Serie A ban for goalscorer Donyell Malen.
“I know this group and I didn’t doubt their strength of character, but it remained a complicated match and we needed this magic moment to break the deadlock,” continued the coach.
“It looked great from the touchline, but I can see it’s even better on video.”
This is Roma’s second season under Gasperini and while the numbers of points conceded and goals conceded are still fairly similar, goals scored have risen to 16, compared to seven at this stage last year.
“I was new last year, so we’ve done a lot since then. I didn’t have Malen either, but more importantly we got to know each other better and we can score goals more easily than last season.
“I think our goals are also good, we have planted the seeds for the last 15 months and now we can achieve the goal in different ways.”
A 4-3 defeat to Real Madrid left them with mixed feelings as they dominated the Champions League giants for more than an hour, only to collapse at the end conceding three identical goals in the corners.
“To lose this way was devastating because the performance was very good and fully deserved. We ruined it for ourselves with three corners in about seven minutes, but before that Real Madrid weren’t hurting us at all, we were actually creating chances,” said Gasperini.
“It has rattled us, so I had no doubt we would respond well tonight. A lot of the players on the bench must have felt it tonight, so I knew there was going to be that determination and energy to put them all on the pitch today.
“Genoa may not be the champions of Real Madrid, but they are very well prepared tactically and it took us a while to fight them.”
After hosting Slovan Bratislava in the Champions League on Tuesday, there are tough games ahead as they visit Max Allegri’s struggling Napoli in Serie A next Saturday.