Gian Piero Gasperini has never been one for platitudes. The Atalanta manager, a man whose tactical fingerprints are all over the modern Italian game,...
Gian Piero Gasperini has never been one for platitudes. The Atalanta manager, a man whose tactical fingerprints are all over the modern Italian game, has offered a stark dose of realism ahead of the run in. Despite his side's current perch in the top four, Gasperini insists that Roma's quest for Champions League football is still far from certain. It is a comment that carries the weight of a man who has seen too many promises broken in the spring.Quoting the legendary Arrigo Sacchi, Gasperini reminded us that in football, the scoreboard never lies. And right now, that scoreboard suggests a dogfight of epic proportions. Roma, for all their recent resurgence under Daniele De Rossi, are not safe. The gap is slender, the margins razor thin, and the chasing pack is hungry. This is squeaky bum time, and Gasperini knows it better than most.The beauty of this particular race is the lack of a clear favourite. Juventus are wobbling, Bologna are defying gravity, and Atalanta themselves are prone to the occasional wobble away from Bergamo. What Gasperini has done, quite deliberately, is shift the pressure back onto the shoulders of the Giallorossi. By invoking Sacchi, he is not just name dropping; he is signalling that consistency, not just moments of brilliance, will decide who dines at Europe's top table.It is a masterclass in man management. Gasperini is telling his own squad not to get giddy. He is telling the media that the narrative of a coronation is premature. And most importantly, he is reminding Roma that a single slip up, a single moment of hesitation in the low block, could be catastrophic. The margin for error is non existent.So where does that leave us With six weeks of pure, unadulterated tension. Every pass will be scrutinised, every substitution a potential masterstroke or disaster. Gasperini, the old fox, has already played his opening hand. Now it is up to De Rossi to reply. One thing is certain: the journey to the Champions League will be anything but certain.
