That is precisely why the bar has been raised, but now failing to qualify for the Champions League would represent a serious setback, even a disappointment. The club and the Friedkin family have not officially set minimum objectives, so a season of growth, marked by the development of young players, the emergence of future starters, or even the sale of promising talents in the summer to address Financial Fair Play concerns, could still be judged positively.
But context matters: finishing fifth just one point behind fourth place would be very different from finishing sixth, or even fifth while trailing by more than ten points. Gasperini even guided Roma to first place at one stage, albeit briefly, and for that reason too, missing out on the top four would feel like a missed opportunity.
Biggest problem
The main issue is clear: Roma have dropped too many points against the league’s strongest teams. Aside from a draw against Milan, secured by Lorenzo Pellegrini’s penalty, the Giallorossi have lost far too many points against their direct competitors. This has complicated the standings.
Occasional slip ups are inevitable and understandable, such as those against Torino, Cagliari, or Udinese, but when you fail to beat your rivals, you can no longer afford those mistakes. The points average remains high, but without victories in key head to head matches, Roma are constantly forced to play catch up.
In these games, a change of gear is essential. In a few weeks Giallorossi will face Napoli and it represents the perfect opportunity to reverse this trend. It will a crucial test and winning it is the only way to avoid losing further ground.
Four players arrived in the transfer market, but Gasperini has made it clear that only two, Donyell Malen and Bryan Zaragoza, are considered ready to contribute immediately. Malen is a high level striker who has already shown his quality, even if he has yet to fully build on his debut.
Zaragoza, a player seeking a relaunch, at least possesses the characteristics Gasperini looks for to complete his attacking department.
Squad building
Lorenzo Venturino and Robinio Vaz, by contrast, are seen purely as prospects for the future. The coach has clearly distinguished between players who are ready to compete now and those who still need time to develop. This distinction sends a direct message to sporting director Ricky Massara and the club. Gasperini made it explicit when he said: “We have to decide: do we want to be Roma Under 23, or do we want to go to the Champions League?”
It is clear he is not fully satisfied with the club’s transfer business. While Massara had to operate within a difficult financial framework, the overall strategy, particularly in terms of timing, has been underwhelming. Zaragoza arrived on the final day of the window as a left winger, even if a top player in that role was Gasperini’s very first request upon arriving in Rome.
Across two transfer windows, that reinforcement effectively came last. Wesley, signed in the summer to play on the right, is currently deployed on the left; Angelino is still not match ready; and Kostas Tsimikas has been a disappointment. These are just some of the structural issues affecting the lineup.
Of course, Rome was not built in a day, but it could have been built better. That said, Gasperini and his players also bear responsibility. Eight league defeats, many of them against direct rivals, weigh heavily. From now until June, Gasperini must extract the maximum from the squad at his disposal, perhaps even experimenting tactically between midfield and attack.
After such a promising start, missing out on the Champions League would be a real shame. Gasperini has repeatedly proven himself to be a top level coach. Now he needs a season finale worthy of his reputation: fewer mistakes and a handful of big wins against direct competitors, that is the recipe for happiness for Roma. At least for now.