Gianluca Mancini, Roma`s center-back, has revealed that new coach Gian Piero Gasperini is encouraging him to adopt a more attacking style from his defensive position. Mancini believes Roma has the potential to excel in the Europa League this season.
Following Roma`s 2-1 victory over OGC Nice in their Europa League opener, where Mancini scored the winning goal, he spoke to the media about his evolving role under Gasperini:
“I`ve always had an attacking mindset, but it greatly depends on the coach you`re working with. Gasperini strongly emphasizes this style, so when I move forward, I know the midfielders will cover for me. We`re still adapting to the new system, but we recognized that Nice would leave some gaps for us to exploit tonight.”
Mancini explained how his offensive contributions are becoming more frequent: “Their striker struggled to track my runs. I made two attempts and managed to score twice, effectively.”
Discussing Roma`s defensive solidity, Mancini emphasized the importance of teamwork: “A strong defense isn`t just about the backline. I`ll say it a thousand times – it starts with the entire team helping to protect us. We`ve been fortunate at times and haven`t conceded many goals this season.”
Regarding Roma`s Europa League prospects, Mancini expressed confidence: “We have several players who`ve reached a Europa League Final, and Gasperini won it two years ago with Atalanta. We certainly have what it takes to succeed. However, we need to approach it one game at a time and view playing every three days as an opportunity for rapid improvement.”
As Roma continues to adapt to Gasperini`s tactics, Mancini and his teammates are optimistic about their potential in both domestic and European competitions this season.