Gian Piero Gasperini ‘had no doubts’ Roma would react well to the Real Madrid match, as they beat Genoa 2-0. ‘Losing that way was devastating because the performance was so good.’
The Giallorossi were feeling the pressure after a run of disappointing results, including back-to-back Serie A draws with Inter and Como, but above all fumbling a 3-1 lead to lose 4-3 to Real Madrid here on Wednesday night.
It took a while to break Daniele De Rossi’s Genoa down, but in the second half they came away with the points thanks to the first Roma goals from Santiago Castro and youth product Emanuele Lulli.
This was the 300th Serie A victory in Gasperini’s career and the best Roma start to a Serie A season for 12 years.
Gasperini had no doubts on Roma
“This was not an easy match, as Genoa were very difficult to get a hold of especially in the first half with those long balls over the top,” Gasperini told Sky Sport Italia.
“We did better after the break, and had a very young squad out there, but I have to say they were excellent. We won a match that counts for a great deal.”
Roma made seven changes from the side that started against Real Madrid midweek, although some were forced by injuries to Paulo Dybala, Manu Koné, Mile Svilar and Bryan Cristante, plus the one-match Serie A ban for top scorer Donyell Malen.
“I know this group and had no doubt about their strength of character, but it remained a complicated match and we needed this moment of magic to break the deadlock,” continued the coach.
“It looked spectacular from the touchline, but on video I can see it was even better.”
This is Roma’s second season under Gasperini, and while the number of points and goals conceded are still fairly similar, the goals scored have surged to 16 compared to seven at this stage last year.
“I had just arrived last year, so we’ve done a lot of work since then. I also didn’t have Malen, but more importantly we’ve got to know each other better and can score goals with much greater ease than last season.
“I feel our goals are also of good quality, we sowed the seeds over the last 15 months, and now we can reach the goal in many different ways.”
The 4-3 defeat to Real Madrid left them with mixed feelings, as they dominated the giants of the Champions League for over an hour only to crumble at the end by conceding three almost identical goals on corners.
“Losing that way was devastating, because the performance had been so good, and thoroughly deserved. We ruined it for ourselves with three corner kicks in about seven minutes, but before that Real Madrid were not hurting us at all, in fact we were creating the chances,” noted Gasperini.
“That’s what irritated us, so I had no doubt that we would react well this evening. Many of the players tonight had to experience it from the bench, so I knew they’d have that determination and energy in them today to let it all out on the pitch.
“Genoa might not have the champions of Real Madrid, but they are tactically very well-drilled, and it took us a while to get to grips with them.”
There is a difficult run of games coming up, as they host Slovan Bratislava in the Champions League on Tuesday, then visit Max Allegri’s struggling Napoli in Serie A next Saturday.