GIAN PIERO GASPERINI PROVIDES DYBALA CLARIFICATION, SENDS MESSAGE TO FERGUSON
Roma boss Gian Piero Gasperini admits his team has a goalscoring crisis, stating striker Evan Ferguson "is not responding" and Paulo Dybala must provide more goals and assists ahead of their Serie A clash with Sassuolo.
Gian Piero Gasperini, Head Coach of AS Roma, looks on during the UEFA Europa League 2025/26 League Phase MD3 match between AS Roma and FC Viktoria Plzen at Stadio Olimpico on October 23, 2025, in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)
While Gian Piero Gasperinini maintains that he made amends with Paulo Dybala, he cautions that Evan Ferguson "is plainly not" responding appropriately for Roma.
At 14.00 GMT on Sunday, they will play their next match against Sassuolo at the Mapei Stadium.
The Giallorossi have been faltering lately as their ongoing goal-scoring issue has gotten worse, leading to back-to-back losses to Viktoria Plzen and Inter.
For a team led by Gasperini, who is having serious trouble after nine years at Atalanta, this is an uncommon issue.
Gasperini is having trouble scoring goals for Roma.
In his press conference, the coach stated, "It is true that the biggest difficulty is that this team is not accustomed to assaulting the opposition's penalty area, but the good news is that this is something we can fix with training."
"We must play as a team with the appropriate positioning to shake off marking in both attack and defence. Everyone must return to full fitness before they are required to respond.
Ferguson was Gasperini's first choice striker at the beginning of the season, but Artem Dovbyk has since filled the position when Dybala is not used as a False 9.
Gasp continued, "Ferguson needs to respond on the pitch, and he is clearly not doing that at this time."
I only witnessed his first truly effective training session yesterday. At the age of 21, he is not used to playing this frequently. His only choice is to put in more effort, but we need him to become more self-assured.
A centre-forward does not have to be large, tall, and physically strong; they also need to have speed, skill, shooting ability, and the ability to work well with others. A person can solve many issues if he has all those qualities.
Following Thursday's Europa League loss to Viktoria Plzen, some Roma supporters were jeering, but there was also tension when Dybala implied the club was "sluggish" and "underestimated" the challenge.
Although Gasperini disagreed, he did add that the strikers in particular needed to "look in the mirror" and ask themselves why they had not been scoring recently.
In order to understand how to attack the space, play in those risky places, and create those scoring opportunities, Gasperini clarified, "I meant that we all need to work together."
"We all confirmed our viewpoints in the locker room, even though I did not agree with Dybala's remarks at the time. It is not acceptable for us to be slow or underestimate our opponents.
"We acknowledge that this squad is now limited, but their attitude is not deserving of criticism. That would be extremely concerning.
For the first time in several months, Dybala played ninety minutes on Thursday.
"He can play tomorrow; he just needs to start scoring goals and dishing out assists more often." Since he is a striker, he cannot perform the duties of a midfielder. It is comforting that he is now becoming physically fit.
Before Gasperini's arrival, Roma played drastically differently, and he is quick to note that this is still a work in progress.
"Jeers must be tolerated by the team as a whole as well as by individuals. We respond by working hard. Whoever is wearing the Roma jersey has my support; they need to know how to respond to a subpar performance.
"The process is just getting started, and there is a lot of space for improvement."
GUARDIOLA TIPS HAT TO DYCHE: ‘HE’S AMONG THE VERY BEST’
Pep Guardiola hails new Forest boss Sean Dyche as "the best" at set-pieces, noting the trend isn't new. He also revealed that Man City has struggled with dead-ball situations this season compared to rivals like Arsenal.
Pep Guardiola shaking hands with Sean Dyche - COURTESY/PHOTO
According to Pep Guardiola, Nottingham Forest has one of the best representatives of the new fascination in football at their disposal.
Although Mikel Arteta, Arsenal, and their ability to score goals from set pieces are admired by the football community, Guardiola has reminded everyone that the idea is not particularly new.
As demonstrated during his tenure as Burnley's manager from 2012 to 2012, he did, in fact, hail incoming Forest manager Sean Dyche as "one of the greatest."
The 54-year-old guided the Clarets into the Premier League and kept them there for six seasons before exiting Turf Moor.
Forest, who have only won one league game so far and are now in third place, can now access that knowledge.
Man City boss Guardiola said, “It’s true that people utilise every throw-in like a corner and put 10 players there in the box.
"Every move (Michael) Kayode made in the box caused us to suffer when we played at Brentford or watched Brentford play Liverpool in our hotel. Additionally, Kayode was the match's man.
“Today, set pieces are a menace. I recall being in Burnley a long time ago with Sean Dyche. Burnley posed a serious threat in the second and long balls.
"Dyche is by far the finest at these kinds of things. He has already done it; therefore, it is not fresh.
Or Sam Allardyce. Or I recall Stoke City when I was not here. Do you recall the throws made by Stoke City?
Maybe Stoke was the anomaly back then, but more and more teams are doing that now.
"I recall that Arsene Wenger mentioned playing at Stoke City while I was at Barcelona and Bayern Munich, but these days it happens frequently.
It may have happened (only) at Burnley or not at all when I got there, but it is a fact now. You must also pay attention. I still want to play, though.
This season, Arsenal has already scored nine league goals from set pieces, five from open play, and two from penalties.
With eight (plus eight from open play and one penalty), Chelsea is not far behind.
On the other end of the scale, though, are Forest and Man City. While City has scored 12 goals from open play, three more on the counterattack, and two own goals, they have yet to score from a set piece. The Reds have scored two of their five goals from restarts.
"Every manager does what they think," Guardiola stated. I am not ignorant of the fact that I want to score from corners and free kicks. I desire it. However, I dedicate my time to what we need to do to improve our play, attack, and generate opportunities. to score goals.
I pay attention, of course, but I am aware that I am not the manager to try to; I have done that my entire career. When things became rough at Burnley, I recall that we gave up maybe one corner, if any, as the second balls were under our control. That is the most effective method of defending these games.
However, you need to be strong in many areas for that, and we are working on it. I will keep working mostly on our game till the very end. And occasionally, as necessary, adjust.
At Brentford, we performed quite well. James, the French set-piece coach, did a fantastic job of enticing our guys into defending these kinds of acts. The same was true at Arsenal: it was amazing. We did not control the game against Arsenal; therefore, we gave up a lot of corners.
NAPOLI TAKE THREE-POINT LEAD AFTER CLOSE WIN AGAINST LECCE
Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa's header secured a 1-0 win for Napoli over Lecce, moving them top of Serie A. The victory was sealed after Vanja Milinkovic-Savic saved a Francesco Camarda penalty.
Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa celebrates scoring - Photo Credit: Getty Images
Andre Frank Zambo Anguissa scored another goal to give Napoli a narrow victory over Lecce, although Vanja Milinkovic-Savic also saved a penalty kick from Francesco Camarda.
The thrilling 3-1 victory against Inter put the Partenopei back atop the league, but it came at a price: Kevin De Bruyne will miss several months of action due to a significant thigh strain. Rasmus Hojlund and Amir Rrahmani returned to the bench, but Stanislav Lobotka, Alex Meret, and Romelu Lukaku remained on the treatment table. Leonardo Spinazzola and Scott McTominay were rested, and the 4-3-3 formation was reinstated. Following the 3-2 loss to Udinese, Lecce was without Gaby Jean, Filip Marchwinski, Matias Perez, and Riccardo Sottil.
Billy Gilmour's attempt was deflected wide as Napoli wore their special edition Halloween uniform, but Lorenzo Lucca unintentionally charged down a Matteo Politano strike that was on target.
On the Matias Olivera pull-back, Politano turned over from six yards out, while Medon Berisha also threatened by drilling wide from the area's edge.
Olivera had been put clear by a clever Gilmour first-touch lay-off, but Wladimiro Falcone made a fantastic stop with his legs at the near post.
On the cusp of halftime, Francesco Camarda's chest and half-volley was inches wide, yet it would not have been considered handball.
Moments after the restart, Noa Lang added to the growing list of Napoli players out after hobbling off with a hit to the thigh just above the left knee.
Lucca sprinted onto a long ball that Falcone hurried out to nod clear, and Politano's follow-up was charged down with the goalie off his line, creating a double chance to open the score.
After a VAR review, the Lecce penalty was given because Kialonda Gaspar's header on a corner seemed to hit Juan Jesus' hand, which bent back on impact. Vanja Milinkovic-Savic, who has saved five of the past nine Serie A penalties faced, demonstrated his expertise by parrying the spot-kick when Camarda stepped up.
Hojlund made his comeback from injury, with McTominay and Leonardo Spinazzola reinforcing the team off the bench for the final half-hour.
It paid off, as a free kick from David Neres was glanced into the far top corner off the head of Anguissa from six yards out, giving Napoli the lead.
Nikola Stulic was too slow to capitalise on a Danilo Veiga pull-back, Elmas shot wide, and Hojlund missed the Neres assist in stoppages.