Roma has experienced an impressive start to the season under head coach Gian Piero Gasperini, according to a look at the club’s campaign by Yahoo. Gasperini has quickly stamped his authority on the Giallorossi, exercising a growing influence and level of power within the club that appears to be greater than any of his predecessors, including José Mourinho.
Gasperini’s Arrival and Growing Authority at Roma
The transition to the capital brought new goals for the coach, who stated in an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport that he is happy at Roma after parting ways with Atalanta. Gasperini addressed the summer transfer window, describing it as torture due to financial fair play constraints that forced the club to abandon moves for players like Greenwood and Summerville despite Champions League qualification money. That frustration was offset by players taking pay cuts to stay.
Donyell Malen’s Record-Breaking Scoring Pace
Striker Donyell Malen has ignited discussions of a historic campaign after scoring five goals in his first two matches, with at least three others narrowly missed. According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, this early scoring rate initially projected out to an extreme 95 goals, though attention has naturally shifted to whether Malen can challenge Gonzalo Higuaín’s remarkable single-season Serie A record of 36 goals set in 2015-2016, which was later equalled by Ciro Immobile in 2019-2020.
Gasperini expressed confidence in the forward’s potential, noting that it wouldn’t surprise me
if Malen mounted a serious challenge to the record. Two years ago, Gasperini guided Retegui to 25 goals after the player had scored only seven the previous season. Explaining Malen’s technical progression, Gasperini noted: What struck me about him is his first touch, which creates space. With the second, he sets himself up, and with the third, he shoots. I told myself: if I move those three touches closer to the goal, he becomes lethal. And indeed…
Before arriving in Rome, Malen frequently played as a winger for Aston Villa and the Netherlands while struggling to find the net regularly. In Rome, however, he has already surpassed Gabriel Batistuta’s tally in a Roma shirt by reaching 16 goals, alongside scoring 19 goals in 20 matches since January. In their record-breaking years, both Immobile and Higuaín had scored only two goals after the first two matchdays, whereas Malen already holds five.
The Impact of Paulo Dybala and Team Dynamics
A key driver behind Malen’s blistering start is his partnership with Paulo Dybala. Data shows that in just 8 matches together, Dybala has inspired 6 of Malen’s goals, producing an average of 2.75 goals per match for the side. Gasperini dismissed the notion of resting the Argentine star, stating: There are words I hate: preserve, save, rest… I ask Paulo: ‘Do you want to play again?’ If he says ‘Yes,’ I’ll keep him in even when we’re 4-0 up. Never stop a guy who’s having fun.
With players like Cristante and Pellegrini openly discussing Scudetto ambitions, Gasperini has chosen not to stifle the squad’s enthusiasm. Roma now looks toward upcoming tests in both domestic play and the Champions League, where the international experience of additions such as Balerdi and De Roon is expected to provide valuable support.
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