How will Gian Piero Gasperini perform at AS Roma?

After a decade as the manager of Atalanta, Gian Piero Gasperini has been named the AS Roma manager.

At Atalanta, he made an instant impression and turned them into European campaigners as soon as he walked through their doors.

La Dea had been one of the struggling top clubs in Italian football and had not been in Europe for some time, but when he arrived, he turned them into one of the best teams to watch.

Gasperini grew up watching Italian clubs sticking to defensive football to achieve success, and even their national team was renowned for being one of the most defensive in the world.

This shaped him, but when he ventured into management, even from the youth teams he initially coached, he wanted to change the narrative.

He wanted people to see that Serie A teams could play with flair and display exciting attacking football, while still defending well.

His idea was simply that the best form of defence is attack, and it worked as fans flocked to buy Serie A tickets whenever it is Atalanta that is playing.

His Genoa team, which he coached from 2013 to 2016, his second spell with them, was one of the best to watch, yet they did well.

When he arrived at Atalanta in 2016, the team were always fighting to stay in the top flight, but he finished his first season inside the top four and brought European football back.

Fans were now proud to buy Atalanta tickets because their team was now one of the best to watch in the league.

For the next nine years, he established them as one of the best clubs in Italy and one of the finest to watch in European competitions.

La Dea constantly fought for honours and after heartbreaks at the Coppa Italia finals in 2019, 2021 and 2024, he won the Europa League in 2024.

Most people will say the gaffer deserved that victory, as he has been one of the best coaches around and needed a trophy to prove that.

Why Gasperini was the right manager

Just like Atalanta when he joined them, Roma is one of the top Italian clubs that has lost its way.

Last season, under the management of Claudio Ranieri, they nearly qualified for the Champions League again but could not achieve that after finishing fifth, one point behind Juventus.

Ranieri came out of retirement to coach them that term and has returned to retirement after he helped them hire Gasperini.

They have made the right pick because Gasperini has shown over the years that he can thrive as an underdog.

His failed spell at Inter Milan makes it difficult to bet on him to manage one of the top clubs in the world, but he is a coach we can trust to deliver in a team that needs success.

He will get a chance to prove his worth because Roma has endured a few seasons of struggles to find their identity and win trophies.

They have invested in some of the best talent on offer, but the team does not seem close to returning to the top four.

This is the type of environment and situation that brings out the best in Gasperini, and we back him to bring the team back to the Champions League.

AS Roma's goals to achieve

Since the 2018/2019 season, Roma has not played in the Champions League, which is sad as one of the top clubs in the country.

In the previous campaign, they reached the semifinal of the competition, where they faced Liverpool and lost.

Roma were very competitive in both legs of that game, but Liverpool was too good and eliminated them to reach the Champions League final, where they faced Real Madrid.

But since 2019, they have not played in the competition, and their first goal would be to qualify for the UCL next summer.

The Romans will also buy the Europa League tickets as they dream of seeing their team win the competition like Atalanta, but a fine run in it will be enough to justify Gasperini’s arrival.

If he reaches the final of the Coppa Italia also, it will be the perfect way to start his time on their bench.

Read More: Why Jose Mourinho failed as the manager of AS Roma.

How has their summer been

AS Roma’s owners are among the most serious businessmen in Serie A, and they know their new manager needs some new players to do well.

In the last few days, they have been trying to finalise a deal to add Jadon Sancho to their squad during this transfer window.

However, those who have already arrived show that they mean business, with Evan Ferguson and Leon Bailey joining them on loan from the Premier League.

Roma has also splashed the cash on Neil El Aynaoui from Lens and Wesley from Flamengo, while securing another loan deal for Daniele Ghilardi.

Last season’s squad was in great shape, but they have still invested in the group and are one of the teams that could still add players to their squad this summer, so this has been a good window for them.

Can Roma win a trophy this season?

Before he won the Europa League last year, Gasperini had reached at least three Coppa Italia finals.

His team were underdogs each time, and it must be said that Atalanta was almost always punching above its weight during the seasons he was on their bench.

In Rome, he meets a team that is far more equipped and has better players who have just been underachieving over the years.

Gasperini will relish the chance to end their trophy drought, and he can achieve that this season.

However, the smart thing to do would be to target the Coppa Italia, while looking to make an impression in Europe and Serie A.

Trying to win all the competitions they will play this season will lead to a quick burnout and Roma cannot afford that if they truly want to win some trophies this term.

Why a return to the Champions League is a big deal

It would be a no-brainer if Roma wins a trophy this season, but their fans would be proud to watch their team in the Champions League again.

After six years, that dream nearly came true last season, only for it not to happen, so their supporters would be looking forward to Gasperini taking them back inside the top four.

Roma’s owners are also desperate to be back in that competition, mostly because of the money they will make from it.

If Gasperini turns them into a regular in the Champions League again, he will earn their respect, and that could keep him in the job for a long time, considering that Jose Mourinho failed to achieve that.

Read More: Will AS Roma make a return to the Champions League this season.