The new king of Rome

Gian Piero Gasperini is the new king of Rome. The experienced Italian coach is finishing a turbulent season — full of ups, downs, and internal battles — in grand style. Gasperini emerged victorious in Trigoria after the Friedkin family sided with him and thanked Claudio Ranieri for his service, while Ricky Massara is also expected to be dismissed within days despite being under contract until 2030. Coincidentally or not, Roma’s winning run began right after the culmination of the conflict between Gasperini and the club leadership — namely Ranieri and Massara — following the 5–2 defeat against FC Internazionale Milano.

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Since then, AS Roma have recorded five wins and one draw, collecting 16 out of a possible 18 points. During the same stretch, AC Milan earned only seven points, while Juventus FC picked up 11 — and therein lies the secret of Roma’s resurgence. Roma’s victories over the last month and a half would not have meant nearly as much had Milan not collapsed dramatically and Juventus continued to fluctuate in form. It cannot be said that Gasperini did not have luck on his side, but it must also be acknowledged that he sought it out and that, in the end, the work he had done throughout the entire season rose to the surface. There is no doubt that, physically and conditionally, Roma are better prepared than all of their rivals, including Como 1907, who are themselves considered an extremely well-drilled side.

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Another comparative advantage Gasperini holds over Massimiliano Allegri and Luciano Spalletti is his relationship with the tifosi. Gasperini has become the new “king of Rome,” a people’s leader whom supporters are eager to follow. The standing ovations from the entire stadium — especially from the Curva Sud, the heart of the Giallorossi fanbase — felt like the coronation of a new ruler. On the other hand, Allegri and Spalletti have failed to become unifying figures in their respective environments. Quite the opposite: both managers have, to a large extent, become sources of division within the worlds of the Rossoneri and the Bianconeri, fueling tensions and internal friction.

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Still, this season has shown that caution is necessary. Hellas Verona FC gave Juventus, Como, and Inter serious problems over the previous three rounds. Even though the Venetian side have long since been relegated to Serie B, they still want to leave Serie A with dignity. Roma’s players will therefore have to sweat heavily if they want to return to the UEFA Champions League after seven and a half years away. Ryan Friedkin, Roma vice president and son of owner Dan Friedkin, surprised everyone on Sunday morning when he unexpectedly appeared at Trigoria and boarded the team bus heading to the Stadio Olimpico. Before the match, Friedkin also entered the dressing room and delivered a motivational speech, which became another major signal of support for the squad. Even in that episode, Gasperini played a key role. The Roma coach reportedly held a private meeting with Ryan Friedkin on Thursday and convinced him to be physically present with the team before the derby, proving that even in today’s virtual world of modern communication, direct human contact still carries unique emotional weight.