Gasperini: ‘Ranieri surprised me a lot, Massara a good man but no understanding’

COMO, ITALY – MARCH 15: AS Roma coach Gian Piero Gasperini looks on during the Serie A match between Como 1907 and AS Roma at Giuseppe Sinigaglia Stadium on March 15, 2026 in Como, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

Gasperini was asked what he regrets most about the comments that Ranieri made about him, to which he replied: “That I never had the feeling of what he said, it surprised me a lot.”

Gasperini became slightly frustrated when asked if expects a ‘leap in quality’ after Ranieri’s departure.

“I didn’t do anything,” he said. “Don’t put me on the same level, I didn’t do anything against anyone.

“Maybe I misunderstood the question. At Trigoria, you have to play football, that’s all I’m looking for. I’m not part of the other situations and I won’t talk about it. Stop. Everything else is of a high level, from the stadium, which is always full, to the passionate supporters.”

Gasperini went on to confirm that Paulo Dybala could feature in this weekend’s Serie A clash against Bologna, but that he is unlikely to be thrown straight into the starting line-up.

TURIN, ITALY – JANUARY 18: Paulo Dybala of AS Roma celebrates a goal during the Serie A match between Torino FC and AS Roma at Stadio Olimpico di Torino on January 18, 2026 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images)

“It’s difficult (for him to play) from the start. Paulo has resumed training this week, I’ll rule him out. We hope (that he comes on) while the game is in process. We’re on the road to recovery. It’s a matter of his confidence more than his condition. He’s been out of action for a long time.”

Gasperini was then asked whether the final five matches of the season will decide Dybala’s future at the club.

He said: “They will decide Roma’s end to the season. Having him gives us more value, we all want to see Malen, Dybala and Soule.

“Talking about the future today is difficult. We have five games left, not many. There are 15 points up for grabs, all to play for. I’m trying to keep the team’s focus high on tomorrow’s game and the next ones after that where we can’t afford any mistakes.”

Ranieri on whether or not he can continue working with Massara

Questions then reverted back to Gasperini’s relationship with Ranieri. One reporter asked how the situation has come to this after such a promising start less than a year ago.

“I don’t know, you’ve seen all the events. I don’t know how to comment on it, I’ve been out of it. I don’t participate in this mud machine that goes on every day. I continue to work on the team, and we’re trying to do well tomorrow.”

With Ranieri now gone, it is expected that the departure of sporting director Ricky Massara, with whom Gasperini has never really seen eye-to-eye, will follow.

“Ricky is a good person, but we didn’t have a suitable understanding. There was never anything personal, though, it was all about the team.”

Asked whether there is a possibility that they can continue working together, Gasperini said: “The ownership will decide, not me.”

ST ANDREWS, SCOTLAND – OCTOBER 02: CEO of The Friedkin Group, Dan Freidkin interacts with his son, Ryan Freidkin, Co-Founder of Imperative Entertainment during a practice round prior to the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship 2024 at the Old Course at St Andrews on October 02, 2024 in St Andrews, Scotland. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)

So, if Massara were to leave, would Gasperini prefer a more well rounded ‘manager’ role, rather than just as a head coach?

“We need to work more as a team,” he said. “Now more than ever, the coach and sporting director have to work together in the transfer market. I think that the coach and the sporting director have to be responsible together, they have to travel in pairs.

“Often, however, it is the case that a sporting director has contacted other coaches, or the coach is the one who has to call the players. The owners also have to be involved. The ability to work as a team is crucial.

“You have to understand the difficulties that faces a sporting director faces, as well as the sporting director understanding the needs of the coach. The only goal is to improve the team.”

But why did Gasperini never find that ‘understanding’ with Massara?

WALSALL, ENGLAND – AUGUST 06: Frederic Massara, Sporting Director of AS Roma, looks on prior to the pre-season friendly match between Aston Villa and AS Roma at Pallet-Track Bescot Stadium on August 06, 2025 in Walsall, England. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)

“I’ve always left freedom, I’ve always said to sign players if you like them, even if I don’t know them. I only asked for offensive reinforcements, it was nothing extraordinary. I never vetoed anything else.

Does Gasperini feel that now is the right time for Roma to go and put a string of important victories together?

“Every moment is a good moment,” he replied. “But as time goes by, it’s clear that the margin for error has reduced. We’re still committed to this season. When the club wants more, we will start talking about it in the future.”

Finally, Gasperini was asked a question about Saturday’s Serie A match against Bologna, who got the better of the Giallorossi over two legs of the Europa League round of 16 a few weeks ago.

“We did some good things with a few mistakes,” Gasperini recalled. “We lost in extra-time and the team put in a good performance. For me, the two performances were of a high level, then a goal came in extra-time and that’s okay.

“Bologna are strong and organised with a good bench. They were in the Champions League last year. On our part, we also had a good game against Atalanta. The team has satisfied me over the last few games.”