Gasperini: It will be very open against Midtjylland as Dybala and Pele have recovered

In this round of Europa League, Roma will face Midtjylland at home. Gasperini attended the press conference before the game.

What kind of team is Midtjylland?

"This is a good team with quality offensively and excellent young players. It will be an open game and both teams want to score goals."

How to explain the rise of Nordic teams?

"They have trained very well. They have always had excellent physical fitness, and now their skills have also improved. They are developing well and have achieved good results at the club and national team levels. There is no technical gap between our Italian team and them. Midtjylland has won 4 games, which is definitely a signal."

How much work have been done in terms of mental and physical fitness?

"I think this question is a bit one-sided. Football is a combination of all factors. This team is in good shape and the overall coordination has improved. The more games we play, the faster we grow and the more tactical options we have. We have a lot of personality and always play our own style even on the road. We also have strong players in the team. All these factors have brought us to where we are today. We are going through a good stage and must work hard to maintain this positive momentum."

How long can Dybala and Pele play tomorrow?

"They have all recovered. Today is the second time to train with the whole team. If everything goes well, they will play. How long they will play depends on their physical condition."

Ndika and Elnawe are about to leave the team due to the African Cup. Who will replace them?

"They may leave the team a week before the African Cup of Nations and may not play against Como. It is a pity to lose them, but we will deal with it with the resources we have. And their absence was long expected: they may even go very far in this competition, but we do not say bad words."

Is the discussion about the lineup after the summer transfer window still valid?

"These evaluations are dynamic, and the situation can be different every month, and it is the same for all teams. The transfer market will only become realistic in January, not before. As for us, I am paying attention to the growth of all players. Now I feel that even players with less playing time are very confident: we must be careful not to introduce players casually. We first look at the existing lineup and then make an evaluation."

Why did Tsiolkovsky be replaced in the last game? How is Hermoso doing?

"Replace him because he already has a yellow card, and Elnawi is in good condition. If there was no yellow card, I would not replace him so early. Hermoso performed well yesterday, we will see again: if I call them up, it means they can play."

How do you evaluate Francellino, Midtjylland's leading striker?

"They have many excellent players, and I can't comment on the performance of the opponent's players...Tomorrow is an important game. We have to make up for the poor home record. We must go all out, which also allows us to not think about Naples for the time being. We have to strive for promotion."

Can Roma take care of multiple events?

"Of course, Roma players have worked hard to enter the European competition, so they will go all out, whether it is the league, cup or European war. The only thing that may limit us is injuries, other than that they are fully capable of handling multiple games. This is it now: those players who enter the national team and play in continental competitions have to play 60 games a year."

Which player do you expect to bring a qualitative leap?

"I'm very happy with everyone. Of course some people have ups and downs, but this is part of football. Now my team is training hard, full of confidence and the atmosphere is good. This is a blessing."

You have led Atalanta against Midtjylland. What are your impressions? Did their performance surprise you?

"Yes, their ranking may be surprising, but they deserve it. I have played against them twice and they have improved a lot. The players now have great potential. They were difficult to deal with before, and I know their strength and development. Many teams are well-trained and have many good players. Just go and discover them."