THE "FIRST STALEMATE" EFFECT: ANALYZING GIAN PIERO GASPERINI’S HISTORIC FIRST DRAW AS ROMA MANAGER
Gian Piero Gasperini praises Roma's youth and "extraordinary" Donyell Malen after a 1-1 draw with second-placed AC Milan.
Gian Piero Gasperini gave Roma some well-earned credit after their 1-1 draw with second-placed Milan. “They’re always a threat,” he said. “Even when you feel in control, they can hit you out of nowhere.”
It almost felt like déjà vu—Roma had a rough night at San Siro back in November, missing a bunch of chances (including a Dybala penalty) and losing 1-0. This time, Koni De Winter put Milan ahead, heading in a Modric cross from a short corner. But Roma didn’t waste their spot-kick—Lorenzo Pellegrini stepped up and finally beat Maignan from the penalty spot.
Gasperini liked what he saw from his team. “Both of our main penalty takers—Dybala and Malen—had already come off, so we were all looking around, thinking Cristante would take it. But Pellegrini took charge and nailed it,” he told DAZN Italia.
Modric said Roma controlled the first half, but without the penalty, he wasn’t sure they’d find an equaliser. Gasperini more or less agreed. “When Milan goes in front, they’re deadly on the break, especially when they bring on fresh legs like Pulisic and Fullkrug,” he said.
“Losing this would’ve been a bitter pill. If we’d managed to go ahead, I think we could’ve won.”
The January signings, Donyell Malen and Robinio Vaz, have given Roma more options up front. “Malen’s fantastic as a centre-forward. He’ll get fitter with time, but even today, up against a deep Milan defence, his movement was outstanding. We’re convinced he’s a great addition.”
Gasperini couldn’t help but joke about the team’s youth. “This group is so young—I thought we were building an under-25 squad, but at this rate, we’ve got a bunch of under-20s,” he laughed. “We just played the team sitting second in Serie A and walked away feeling stronger.”
Milan, with their reputation for lethal counter-attacks, looked ready to punish Roma after scoring first. But Roma’s defence stood tall. “We deserve credit for that. Milan has sprinters everywhere—Leao, Pulisic, Nkunku, and even Rabiot. They’re always dangerous, even when it looks like you’re dominating. How many times have we seen them turn games around at the last minute?”
“My defence this season has been incredible, and keeping Milan quiet tonight says a lot about our determination.”
Not everything went right, though. Manu Koné limped off with a suspected muscle strain just before the hour mark—another headache for the medical team. Mario Hermoso is also out for at least a month, but Daniele Ghilardi stepped up in defence. “He did well against Stuttgart, too. Ghilardi’s grown so much since the start of the season—he’s learnt when to step in and when to hold back. You can really see the difference a few months make with these young guys,” Gasperini said.
This draw is actually Gasperini’s first ever with Roma. Up until now, it’s been 19 wins and 10 defeats across Serie A, the Europa League, and Coppa Italia.
With this result, Roma catch up to Napoli in third place, but they’re still nine points behind Inter at the top. Maybe more importantly, Juventus are just one point back in fifth, and now Como have joined the race for those Champions League spots.
PULISIC HITS BACK: MILAN STAR SHUTS DOWN 2026 GOAL DROUGHT CONCERNS
"I haven't stopped dreaming." Christian Pulisic addresses his goal drought and the frustration of missing out on the Gold Cup squad.
Christian Pulisic isn’t holding back. When critics started questioning his recent form and worried about his 2026 goal drought, he shut them down, calling those concerns “bad questions". The AC Milan forward, fresh off his Time magazine cover, still trusts his ability to step up for the USMNT as they gear up to co-host the World Cup.
All eyes are on him.
The U.S. is set to share the stage for the 2026 World Cup, and Pulisic is set to become the go-to guy for the national team. Landing on the cover of Time isn’t something soccer stars from America get every day, and it just shows how big a deal he’s become, especially after proving himself in Europe. But right as people are finally giving him mainstream recognition, he’s under the microscope for not putting up his usual numbers in front of the goal.
He’s not fazed by the dip.
When Time asked about his goal drought and how he’s handling not scoring for club or country this year, Pulisic didn’t mince words; he’s not sweating it. “I plan on scoring goals. Such bad questions. I’m not concerned about it, man.” You can hear the confidence in his voice.
Dealing with the noise
Pulisic admits this stretch feels extra tough. Missing out on last June’s Gold Cup squad hurt him, mostly because he’s used to shutting people up with his play. “Normally, I just go out there and score, and that quiets everybody. Right now, I’m in my offseason, so everyone’s talking, and I can’t do anything about it. That’s what’s frustrating.”
For Pulisic, attacking is everything. “Going at the goal, creating attacks, that’s what I live for. Sure, you have to do all the other stuff: defend, run, whatever. That’s fine. But what really gives me joy is finding ways to score and actually scoring.”
Chasing the dream
The U.S. opens their World Cup run against Paraguay at the SoFi Stadium on June 12, and Pulisic will lead the team right here at home. He doesn’t like making big public predictions, but at 27, he keeps that childhood dream alive. “That’s just not how I work. But I’ll lie in bed and imagine myself holding the World Cup trophy. I did that when I was a kid, and I haven’t stopped. You need to believe. Why not?”
WHY DID LAUTARO MARTINEZ REJECT A CAREER-DEFINING MOVE TO THE PREMIER LEAGUE?
"I love Milan." Read why 28-year-old Lautaro Martinez rejected Manchester United and Arsenal to stay at the San Siro in 2026.
Inter captain Lautaro Martinez has clearly put an end to any speculation about leaving San Siro, making it known that he has no plans to entertain offers from Europe’s top clubs. Even with regular links to teams like Barcelona, Manchester United, and Arsenal, the Argentine forward is fully committed to what’s happening in Milan.
Martinez has been quite vocal about his dedication to Inter amid constant rumours about his future. Despite frequent connections to some of the biggest clubs on the continent, he insists there’s no reason for him to move on from the current Serie A champions.
Media reports have often tied him to Barcelona, PSG, Arsenal, and Manchester United. But through various transfer windows, Martinez has consistently pushed back on the idea of leaving Inter. At 28, he remains a key figure in the team’s current setup and has stepped up as the club’s captain and on-field leader.
In an interview with Cronache di Spogliatoio, Martinez expressed his loyalty to Inter’s project. He made it clear that he isn’t interested in changing clubs despite the speculation.
He said, “No, because I am faithful to the Inter project, I feel at home here. My family is happy, we have a restaurant in the city, and we love Milan. From the first day, everyone treated me in a way I didn’t think possible. I achieved so many personal and team goals here.”
Success on the pitch seems to deepen his connection to the club. Inter recently secured another league title and continues to chase trophies, including the Coppa Italia. On an individual level, Martinez is eyeing the Capocannoniere prize as Serie A’s top scorer. His steady performances underline why he’s considered one of the most reliable forwards in European football.
Since his move from Racing Club in 2018, Martinez has become the defining presence in Inter’s modern lineup. With 173 goals over 372 competitive games, it’s clear how vital he is to the team.
Looking ahead, the club sees Martinez as a central piece in their long-term plans. His leadership and scoring ability make him hard to replace. Settled both on and off the field in Milan, he seems set on continuing his story at the Giuseppe Meazza, despite ongoing interest from Europe’s elite clubs.
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