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.
ANTONIO CONTE DEMANDS RUTHLESS FINISHING DESPITE NAPOLI’S CRUCIAL ONE ZERO CAGLIARI WIN
Antonio Conte celebrates Napoli's fourth straight win and a rare clean sheet following a 1-0 victory over Cagliari.
After the 1-0 win at Cagliari, Napoli’s manager, Antonio Conte, shared his thoughts with DAZN. He pointed out that getting key players back is important, though he said they must be fully fit. Anguissa and McTominay aren’t quite there yet, while Kevin De Bruyne looked good. Lobotka struggled a bit, and there’s hope that Rrahmani and Di Lorenzo can return to full fitness soon. Conte admitted that competing for the title won’t be easy, especially with players like Neres posing a challenge. He emphasised that Napoli has held steady over seven months, and now the focus shifts to securing Champions League qualification. They’re aware that other teams are chasing the same spot, but there’s no reason to stop pushing forward. Today’s result puts a bit of pressure on the teams ahead.
Regarding the midfield and attacking midfield, Conte said the team made too many mistakes and could have controlled the game better, especially since Cagliari weren’t pressing hard. They pushed for a second goal in the second half, and as always, anything can happen in these tight matches. The three points are valuable, but they remain cautious because it doesn’t take much to be overtaken.
On the importance of keeping a clean sheet, Conte highlighted that after 11 games without one, it was crucial not to concede. Cagliari didn’t manage a single shot on target, showing how well Napoli defended. He praised the commitment and understanding of the players, though he admits the team still struggles a bit with finishing their chances.
At the press conference, Conte expanded on the need for clinical finishing. He noted that going up 2-0 would have eased pressure, as a 1-0 lead is always fragile; a momentary lapse or scramble can let the opponent back in. Still, he expressed satisfaction with the team’s progress, especially given the challenges over the past seven months. With more players returning from injury, Conte has more options to change things up during matches, bringing in fresh energy and quality.
When asked about the double playmaker setup with McTominay and De Bruyne, Conte described it as an ongoing process rather than something new. The midfield lineup can vary, Lobotka alongside Anguissa or McTominay with Gilmour, for example, but the underlying idea remains consistent. He acknowledged that relying on two playmakers might reduce physicality at times, though it improves passing quality. Since November, they’ve stuck with this four-man midfield system because it suits their style and creates problems for opponents.
Conte also expressed satisfaction with the clean sheet, especially as this was their fourth consecutive win ahead of the international break. He recalled the frustration following a loss in Bologna and welcomed the chance to regroup over the next two weeks before facing Milan. Preventing shots on target was a key success today, but there’s still room to improve in finishing. Being more ruthless in front of the goal remains a priority.
LAUTARO MARTINEZ ADMITS DREAM RETURN TO RACING CLUB AMID INTER CONTRACT
Lautaro Martinez reveals his dream to return to Racing Club, while remaining committed to Inter Milan until 2029.
Lautaro Martinez is still the heart of Inter, but you can tell Racing Club is never far from his mind. He left Argentina for Inter back in 2018, but Racing fans haven’t forgotten him; he’s a legend to them. Lautaro even joked that his long-term plan is to “convince” his wife to head back home with him one day.
He’s got deep roots in Argentina. He came up through Racing’s youth system, banged in 27 goals in 62 games, and became a fan favourite before heading to Italy. Now, he’s one of Serie A’s sharpest strikers. He scored 18 goals and had four assists this season, giving Inter a solid lead over AC Milan. Still, no matter how well he’s doing in Italy, that bond with his old club hasn’t faded.
But moving back isn’t just his call; it’s a family thing. Lautaro talked about this during an interview with Racing Radio, joking about how his wife has got used to life in Milan. He said, “Coming back to racing is my dream: I’m working on convincing my wife, and luckily, she supports me. Of course, there’s a bunch to think about – family stuff, how I’ll feel physically. But my dream is to return for at least a year. I just don’t know when.”
He also mentioned how much he wants his kids to experience the racing love for themselves. He’s tied to Inter until 2029 and made it clear he’s committed to the club right now. “I’ve got three more years here at Inter. I want to stay at this level as long as I can. I feel good; I’m still young, but one day, I want my kids to see how much racing means to me and to its fans.”
Lautaro spoke fondly about Diego Milito, Racing’s current president and Inter icon, who’s basically been a mentor since Lautaro started. They talk every week, and when Lautaro got injured, Milito reached out. Lautaro sent his own message of support for Racing, since the club has been struggling lately.
Lautaro also recalled his last visit to Racing’s training ground, where he ran into coach Gustavo Costas. Costas teased him: “Stick around; we’re waiting for you. Come back next year, play in the World Cup, then come home.” Lautaro said the urge to return never goes away. Racing gave him the chance to be who he is now, and he’s never forgotten it.
