Gasperini's Roma future assured by Massara despite heavy Inter defeat
Roma sporting director Frederic Massara has publicly confirmed that head coach Gian Piero Gasperini will remain in charge next season, seeking to end speculation following a heavy 4-1 defeat to Inter Milan. Massara's statement, made before the match at San Siro, directly addressed uncertainty created by Gasperini's own non-committal response to a question about his future just a day earlier.
Speaking to reporters, Massara labeled Gasperini's continuation as "a certainty." He praised the coach as "extraordinary" and framed the current campaign as the start of a new cycle for the club. This vote of confidence comes amidst a difficult period for the Giallorossi, whose loss in Milan was their eleventh of the Serie A season, a tally not seen since the 2012-13 campaign. The result leaves their hopes of a top-four finish and Champions League qualification in serious jeopardy.
After the match, a visibly disappointed Gasperini analyzed the performance, stating his team "went into tilt" after conceding a third goal. He argued there were "two matches in one," pointing to a decent first-half spell between Inter's goals before a collapse. The coach also cited the impact of repeated and long-term injuries to key players, including the loss of defender Gianluca Mancini during the game, as a factor in the team's inconsistent form in the second half of the season.
When later questioned about summer squad planning, Gasperini indicated he would hold clear talks with the ownership. He suggested the squad does not need a full rebuild but requires strategic reinforcements, acknowledging the club has spent significant sums. "It's not just an economic question," Gasperini said, "but about where and who to get to increase the team's potential." He stressed, however, that such discussions were premature with the season still ongoing.
In further transfer news, Massara provided a positive update on the future of striker Donyell Malen. The Dutch forward is on loan from Borussia Dortmund with a purchase option, and Massara confirmed the clause exists, describing it as "a premise for Malen to remain at the club for a long time." He praised Malen's performances and expressed hope the player could be Roma's centre-forward for years to come.
The immediate focus for Gasperini and his squad is to recover from the Inter setback and mount a late push for European qualification. With the Champions League race growing more difficult, the coach admitted the team is currently "a bit behind" but vowed to do everything to recover the lost ground in the final matches.
