‘We’re only two games into the season’ – Gasperini plays down Roma’s Scudetto chances

Syndicated reporting provided by Stats Perform and reviewed by the SoccerNews editorial team.

Gian Piero Gasperini played down Roma’s chances of challenging for the Serie A title this season despite making it two wins from two matches to begin their league campaign. 

Gasperini watched on as Roma produced a stunning display during their 4-0 thrashing of Lecce at Stadio Ettore Giardiniero on Monday, with Donyell Malen starring once again. 

Malen needed just four minutes to open the scoring before doubling his tally in the 23rd minute, with Matias Soule then getting himself on the scoresheet two minutes later. 

Roma added further gloss to the scoreline just after the hour through Rodrigo Mora’s first goal for the club, which helped the Giallorossi move to the top of the table. 

Gasperini’s side have now recorded two victories, both with four-goal margins, in their first two Serie A matches of a season for the first time in the club’s history, but the Roma boss was not getting carried away by his team’s lightning start. 

“I am happy that we are making our fans proud right now. I would prefer to focus on the present, seeing as we’re only two games into the season,” Gasperini told reporters. 

“A team like this that plays this football can give joy to the supporters. We’ve got to wait and see what our opponents do.

“At this moment, the others are reinforcing, with Inter being in pole position, but also Como are no longer a surprise, then Napoli, Milan and Juventus.

“We’ve got to try to complete our squad so that we don’t run into problems, especially now we’re in the Champions League and need more options available.”

Vinciamo ancora 4-0, stavolta con i gol di Malen (2), Soulé e Mora #LecceRoma pic.twitter.com/RXLsAucjwu

— AS Roma (@OfficialASRoma) August 31, 2026

The result saw Malen once again help Roma to victory. He has now netted 19 goals in his first 20 appearances in Serie A. In the history of the competition, only Gunnar Nordahl (20 goals, in 1949) and Jose Altafini (20, between 1958 and 1959) have managed more in the same number of matches.

After his hat-trick on the opening day against Fiorentina, Malen also became only the second Roma player in the last 65 years to score at least four goals in the Giallorossi’s first two Serie A games of a season, after Vincenzo Montella in 2004-05 (four). 

“I have been fortunate enough to work with some great strikers, like Diego Milito at Genoa, but also with Atalanta I often had players score lots of goals,” Gasperini said of Malen. “Malen is a little different, although he does remind me of Milito in some ways.

“He has this ability to control, turn and accelerate all within moments, which are extraordinary characteristics for a centre-forward. I think both of us, me and him, wanted him to play that role. It was a gamble that paid off. 

“Clearly, if Malen and Dybala were always in this condition, everything would be easier, but we also know that cannot be the case.”

Gasperini was also asked about the future of midfielder Manu Kone, who has been linked with a move to the Premier League with Chelsea on deadline day. 

A deal reportedly worth £52m was understood to have been discussed for Kone, with talks also advancing to see Jamie Gittens join Roma on a season-long loan. 

Kone is being lined up as a replacement for Enzo Fernandez, with talks ongoing over a move to Manchester City for the Argentina international, though Gasperini revealed that no official approach had been made for the France international. 

“Absolutely not, it is a media thing. I know nothing about it,” Gasperini said. “I know the owners, too, and they do not want to sell.

“I don’t know who approached us, but we have not received any formal offers for him.”

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