Roma manager Gian Piero Gasperini discussed the team's objectives for the new season, transfer market strategy, and the impact of financial fair play regulations in an interview with Gazzetta dello Sport. He also spoke about players like Dybala and Mancini, and reflected on his time with Atalanta. This article is the first part of the exclusive interview.

Manager, if you heard Cristante and Pellegrini talking about the Serie A title and celebrating at the Stadio Olimpico, would you scold them, or would you say "well done, lads, believe in yourselves"?

You must never kill dreams. What matters is understanding that when the alarm clock rings, reality is a different matter. But if you face reality the right way, you can eventually align it with your dreams. However, these are not topics to discuss in early September.

After a good start from the team, what's the atmosphere like at Roma now?

There has always been passion here, and now I see a mature and level-headed passion. More mature than people outside Rome might imagine. Roma fans don't fool themselves so easily. They've seen great stars and great teams, and they understand football. Now they are satisfied fans. For me, the greatest satisfaction is seeing them satisfied.

What's the most beautiful thing you've seen in Rome?

Many things... of course, the Sistine Chapel, but I didn't expect St. Peter's Basilica to move me the way it did. When I entered the catacombs, I didn't feel like a tourist—I felt immersed in history.

Among many famous fans, you also met Rino Banfi.

He came to Trigoria. Oronzo Canà is the patron saint of managers like us. After returning to Verona and qualifying for the Champions League, we recreated a scene from a film. The players lifted me up in celebration, and I shouted, "You're treating me like a fool!" Mancini replied, "No, coach..." So I said, "Yes, you are treating me like a fool! Let me down!"

When you come to Rome, you have to meet the Pope.

We're preparing to meet him.

Pope Leo I once prevented Attila from sacking Rome, and you "prevented Koné from being taken away."

No, that's unfair credit to me. Before the match against Lecce, I hadn't heard anything about Koné. After that match, there was no more time for negotiations. And in any case, we never received an official offer.

For many people, financial fair play regulations are like incomprehensible jargon invented by UEFA. Do you understand them?

Unfortunately, I think I do understand them. In June, I initially thought the revenue from qualifying for the Champions League would resolve these issues.

But when we tried to sign Greenwood and Summerville, I realized it wasn't that simple. It was painful throughout the summer, we had to constantly readjust our transfer market plans, and we had to give up on some players who desperately wanted to join Roma because of the total wage bill cap. The owners did everything possible within financial constraints. But my frustration was compensated for.

Compensated by what?

The willingness of players to stay. Among them are young players and older players. They voluntarily accepted wage cuts and prioritized their love for this uniform and this city over everything else—Dybala, Hermoso, Mancini, Cristante, Pellegrini, Lully... This spirit is our strength. These things don't happen everywhere.

Related article:

Gasperini: Meeting Atalanta is like lovers meeting their exes. I'm very happy at Roma.

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