Following AS Roma’s 1-0 loss to Inter Milan in the early hours of Sunday, head coach Gian Piero Gasperini offered a rather unconventional take on the result. Despite the setback, the experienced manager insisted that the performance left him feeling more confident about his team’s direction.
Roma came up short at the San Siro, failing to capitalize on an opportunity to pull away from their closest rivals at the top of the Serie A table. Yet, Gasperini refused to dwell on the loss. For him, not all defeats are created equal and some can even strengthen a team’s belief.
“There are certain defeats that actually give you more confidence in your abilities,” Gasperini told Sky Sport Italia.
Rather than focusing solely on the scoreline, Gasperini highlighted the positives in Roma’s overall display. He firmly believes the team is on the right path and remains optimistic about what lies ahead.
“For most teams, a loss feels like a step back. But not this time,” he added. “Outside of the result, I’m convinced this kind of performance shows we’re doing the right things.”
Inter’s early goal proved to be the game-winner, capitalizing on a miscalculated defensive risk from Roma in the opening minutes. Gasperini admitted the mistake stemmed from a failed offside trap involving Bonny.
“It was a collective error, trying to force an offside situation that wasn’t really necessary,” he explained.
He also provided a bit of context, pointing out that such lapses are more likely to happen after an international break. “Things like this can happen when players return with different expectations from their national teams,” he said.
Despite the early setback, Gasperini praised his players for their fighting spirit and relentless effort to level the score. Roma created several chances, but Inter defense stood strong until the final whistle.
“We threw everything we had at them trying to find an equalizer against a very solid Inter side,” he said. “Some challenges are just unavoidable when facing a team of their quality.”
The loss stings even more considering the bigger picture. With Napoli also losing 0-1 to Torino earlier in the day, Roma had a golden opportunity to pull ahead in the standings. Instead, the race tightens.
Inter have now drawn level with both Roma and Napoli at 15 points, and the pressure is mounting from below. Juventus and AC Milan are both within striking distance, and wins on Sunday could see them leapfrog Roma.
