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Gian Piero Gasperini ended a press conference in tears after being surprised by Claudio Ranieri's comments. He reflected on his time at Atalanta ahead of a crucial match against his former club.
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Gasperini âsurprisedâ by Ranieri, ends Roma press conference in tears
Roma coach Gian Piero Gasperini admitted he was âsurprisedâ by Claudio Ranieriâs comments last week and became emotional, ending his pre-match press conference in tears as he reflected on his time at Atalanta.
Gasperini will face his former club, Atalanta, at the Stadio Olimpico on Saturday, in a key game for a Champions League placement in Serie A.
Roma have approached the game amid growing internal pressure, especially after Claudio Ranieri made strong remarks against the coach prior to last weekâs league game against Pisa.
Ranieri said Gasperini was the fourth pick for Roma last summer, as the top three candidates had turned down an offer from the club and insisted that the Italian tactician had approved all transfer moves this season.
âThere was an interview on Friday, in which Ranieri created some situations, but to me it was an incredible surprise,â Gasperini said via Gazzetta.
BERGAMO, ITALY â MAY 12: Claudio Ranieri, Head Coach of AS Roma looks on prior to the Serie A match between Atalanta and AS Roma at Gewiss Stadium on May 12, 2025 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
Claudio Ranieri made strong remarks against Gasperini prior to last week's league game, which caught him off guard.
Gasperini became emotional as he reflected on his time at Atalanta and the pressure he faces at Roma.
The match is crucial for Champions League placement in Serie A, adding to the stakes for both teams.
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âThere had never been a different tone between Ranieri and me. Both in the press conference and between us. I didnât expect it. And in many years, I had never been subject to such tones. From that moment, Iâve avoided any comment, first of all, not to hurt the club, the team or the Roma fans further.
âWe have an important game tomorrow, as we still have a chance for Europe,â Gasperini continued.
âThatâs the important thing. Iâd be glad if we could only talk about the match.
âIâve had to deal with this media impact. But there will be no excuses for the team and me. Itâs Round 33, the final rush, and itâs extremely important for both sides, even more for us. Iâve shifted the focus entirely to the technical side. I repeat: for me, the priority was not to cause any harm to the team. I expect people to understand this and support the team even more.â
Gasperini confirmed that the handling of some injured players, including Wesley, has contributed to the tension with part of the clubâs management.
âSometimes yes, and itâs also a topic of internal discussion. But thatâs normal,â said the Roma boss.
âWesley currently feels he can play, but the medical staff believes there are risks. This also leads to issues and discussions. Weâll see what happens tomorrow, but if the doctors say no, I can only follow that. Everything depends on medical clearance. Itâs a shame to have lost Pellegrini. Pisilli picked up an ankle sprain at the start of the week. He seems to have recovered; weâll assess him today.â
As expected, Gasp didnât face many questions about the game, and at some point, he was asked about his future at the club.
GLASGOW, SCOTLAND â DECEMBER 11: Gian Piero Gasperini, Head Coach of AS Roma, arrives at the stadium prior to the UEFA Europa League 2025/26 League Phase MD6 match between Celtic FC and AS Roma at Celtic Park on December 11, 2025 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
âYou keep asking me about other things, but I want to talk about the match,â he replied.
âI said I donât want to create problems, and this question creates problems.
âThe club and Ranieri have been very clear. Iâve always believed that with a little, we could reach the Champions League, and Iâve always pushed in that direction despite the significant absences weâve had in recent months. Now weâre here, and we play knowing weâre facing a strong team. When I was a Atalanta, I saw Roma as a benchmark. If we beat Roma, we reach Europe. Now I see it the other way around: if we beat Atalanta, we deserve to play in the Champions League.â
Gasperini couldnât hold back the tears while replying to the last question about his time at Atalanta.
âIn Rome, thereâs everything you need to do well. In Bergamo, I succeeded because the environment around me was united, and the clubâs work was extraordinary,â he said.
âThe small city also created an ideal atmosphere. We worked and built things together. There were young players and more, a strong core group. Think about the transfers made and how the money was reinvested. The anomaly of Atalanta was that it was playing in Europe while still making a profit.
âIt was not just thanks to me, but above all to a very capable club, which worked in harmony with the coach. Then things changed a bit, partly because ownership changed, and partly because of the âfather figureâ I was very close to [Antonio Percassi]âŠâ Gasperini was visibly emotional and left the press conference, unable to contain his tears.