Gasperini after last-minute win: “The team never gives up. Balerdi and Ghilardi changed the match.”

After Roma's last-minute 2-1 victory against Atalanta, coach Gian Piero Gasperini praised his team's resilience and cited key contributions from Balerdi and Ghilardi. Speaking to Sky Sport and DAZN, Gasperini expressed satisfaction with his team's performance, stating that they faced a strong opponent and found themselves behind after the first half.

The coach acknowledged the difficulty of coming back from behind in hot conditions, emphasizing that the team's belief and quality played a crucial role in their comeback. Gasperini highlighted the importance of substitutions, noting that attacking consistently can lead to energy loss and potentially alter the game's direction. The introduction of Ghilardi and Balerdi, he believed, helped restore consistency both defensively and offensively.

Gasperini also discussed the potential for Malen and Castro to play together and expressed optimism about the team's schedule, which features challenging matches every three days. Additionally, he praised the performance of players like Soulé and Molina, who provided quality despite the physical toll of the match. Gasperini addressed the fatigue experienced by players who played the full 90 minutes, mentioning Wesley's cramps, and acknowledged the challenging weather conditions the team had to contend with.

Overall, Gasperini emphasized that while the squad lacks the depth of a Champions League team, their qualitative abilities allow them to make impactful substitutions without sacrificing form.