Gian Piero Gasperini emphasizes that Serie A remains Roma’s main focus at this point in the season, even with the upcoming decisive Europa League match against Panathinaikos. He also discussed Evan Ferguson’s unfortunate luck with injuries.
The Giallorossi’s head coach spoke to the press during the pre-match conference ahead of their final Europa League group stage match, scheduled for Thursday evening away to Panathinaikos, with kick-off set for 20:00 GMT.
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Currently, Roma sits in sixth place in the Europa League standings, heading into this crucial match against Panathinaikos, who are in 19th place. A victory will secure a spot in the round of 16, while a draw may or may not be enough for a top-eight finish.
ROME, ITALY – NOVEMBER 27: AS Roma head coach Gian Piero Gasperini observed during the UEFA Europa League 2025/26 League Phase MD5 match between AS Roma and FC Midtjylland at Stadio Olimpico on November 27, 2025, in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)
“We will aim for a positive outcome. We’ve secured qualification for the top 24, and if we make it to the top eight, we’ll be pleased to skip the play-off round,” Gasperini told reporters (via TMW).
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“At this stage, our primary focus is the league, but tomorrow’s match is crucial, and we must be fully prepared.”
Gasperini on Dybala, Ferguson, and the Need for UEFA Rule Changes
While Gasperini kept the starting lineup under wraps, he did provide an update on star player Paulo Dybala.
TURIN, ITALY – JANUARY 18: Paulo Dybala of AS Roma celebrates a goal during the Serie A match between Torino FC and AS Roma at Stadio Olimpico di Torino on January 18, 2026. (Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images)
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“I’m not in a position to disclose our formation today. I usually keep that private, and it’s even less likely that I’ll discuss it today. We’ll evaluate tomorrow. Dybala came off with a minor knee injury against Milan; he improved yesterday but still felt some discomfort today, so we’ll assess him further tomorrow.”
Gasperini was also questioned about having five strikers in the squad but none available for the upcoming match.
“Yes, we have several unique situations,” he explained. Dovbyk underwent surgery and will be sidelined for months. Arena, at just 16, has made a promising debut and scored, although we didn’t anticipate his participation at this level.
“Then, we have others: Malen has just joined and isn’t on the (UEFA) squad list. It’s quite logical. What’s unfortunate is Ferguson’s injury, which occurred at the last moment in the last match against Stuttgart. He’s certainly not the luckiest player!”
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Gasperini also reflected on Roma’s performance in the Europa League thus far.
GLASGOW, SCOTLAND – DECEMBER 11: Matias Soule of AS Roma celebrates with teammates after Liam Scales of Celtic (not pictured) concedes an own goal resulting in Roma’s first goal during the UEFA Europa League 2025/26 League Phase MD6 match at Celtic Park on December 11, 2025, in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
“From the start, we’ve aimed to perform well in this competition while remaining competitive in the league and the Coppa Italia. Our objective has always been to excel across the board.
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“We experienced some setbacks at home early in the season and encountered some unusually bad luck, including missing three penalties.
“This team has significantly improved in terms of quality and play throughout the season. While we struggled to score initially, we’ve witnessed increased offensive output and excellent results, all while maintaining strong defensive stability.”
Gasperini was also asked about the challenge of not being able to play either of his new signings, Donyell Malen or Robinio Vaz, due to UEFA squad regulations that restrict changes until after the current league phase.
“The transfer window has been open since January began, but you cannot alter your European squad list during this time. This issue is tied to the new format, which is in its second year. Adjustments are likely needed going forward,” he noted.
Donyell Malen proudly displays his Roma shirt after joining the team on loan, with an option to buy from Aston Villa (photo via www.asroma.com)
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“This situation could lead to critical matches approaching, like tomorrow’s, without all available players, as some have departed and others have arrived. Clearly, this is an area that will need to be addressed,” he stated.
Looking ahead to the challenge against Panathinaikos, Gasperini remarked: “Panathinaikos is a solid team that has performed well in Europe. They’ve faced some challenges in their league, but are still well-organized and capable of playing effectively. Like us, they also have a few personnel issues.”
Roma ‘not worried’ about the prospect of Europa League play-offs
Gasperini was questioned on his previous comments regarding Serie A being his primary focus. One journalist suggested that prioritizing tomorrow’s match would lighten their load in the league by potentially avoiding extra games in the Europa League play-off round.
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He responded: “Of course, we must do our utmost to qualify. We’ve reached the final day and remain in the top eight, which is certainly a goal. However, I’m not concerned about the possibility of an extra round. Playing a lot of matches has actually improved our quality. I don’t expect the additional matches to present a significant problem.”
Lastly, Gasperini spoke about his relationship with Rafa Benitez, head coach of Panathinaikos.
“We have a good relationship,” he noted. “Though we haven’t spent much time together, we’ve gotten to know each other over time. He’s an outstanding professional and has been successful in various countries. It will be a pleasure to face him, and I look forward to the match. It should be an exciting contest regardless.”