Gasperini defends Malen, hits out at freeze-frames, says Roma ‘very different’ from Mourinho era

Roma coach Gian Piero Gasperini feels the red card shown to Donyell Malen ‘spoiled’ Como-Roma but insists the Dutch striker didn’t want to hurt his opponent, and he vents at TV’s ‘absurd freeze-frames.’

Gasperini spoke to DAZN after his Roma side drew 0-0 away at Como on Sunday. It is the first goalless stalemate in the opening 54 Serie A matches.

Roma were reduced to ten men for more than 30 minutes after their striker, Malen, received a straight red in the second half.

Gasperini frustrated at Roma red card

ISTANBUL, TURKEY – SEPTEMBER 10: Gian Piero Gasperini, Manager of AS Roma, gestures during the UEFA Champions League 2026/27 League Phase MD1 match between Fenerbahce SK and AS Roma at Fenerbahce Sükrü Saracoglu Spor Kompleksi on September 10, 2026 in Istanbul, Turkey. (Photo by Burak Kara/Getty Images)

Dybala remained on the pitch as a sole striker, and Gasperini was impressed with his performance: “I think Dybala was outstanding, especially in the second half once we went down to ten men,” the Roma coach said.

“He dealt with some very difficult situations while we were numerically disadvantaged. Like his teammates, I believe he produced a high-quality performance. I don’t remember him giving the ball away. He had that chance to score in the first half, but even today it was an extraordinary display.

“He started attracting a lot of passes, letting us breathe and move up the pitch. He was probably the player most affected because he had to operate between Como’s two centre-backs, but he did so with great intelligence and quality, like a genuine footballer who truly understands the game.”

Gasperini was confident his team could have scored first if not for Malen’s red card.

COMO, ITALY – OCTOBER 11: Donyell Malen of AS Roma reacts after he receives a red card from referee Michael Fabbri during the Serie A match between Como 1907 and AS Roma at Giuseppe Sinigaglia Stadium on October 11, 2026 in Como, Italy. (Photo by Claudio Villa/Getty Images)

“We had some very good chances to score in the first half. Como did too, but I think we gave the impression we could take the lead,” he said.

“Then, with more than 30 minutes of numerical disadvantage, it obviously became very difficult. I don’t know how the game would have ended, but we were confident we had a great chance of winning it. Instead, we were forced to defend, and we did so in a very organised way. When you play 30 minutes with ten men and come away with a draw, you have to be satisfied.”

Mile Svilar has been ruled out for a month, so Pierluigi Gollini replaced him today. The Italian made his first Serie A appearance in two years.

“He was undoubtedly very good with his hands and on the ball,” Gasperini said about Gollini.

“He was alert and accurate. The team put him in the best possible conditions to perform. It looks like he can replace Svilar very effectively.”

MADRID, SPAIN – SEPTEMBER 08: Jose Mourinho, Head Coach of Real Madrid looks on before the UEFA Champions League 2026/27 League Phase MD1 match between Real Madrid C.F. and FC Internazionale Milano at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on September 08, 2026 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)

Roma’s next game is on Wednesday when they host José Mourinho’s Real Madrid at the Stadio Olimpico in the Champions League.

“When I look at Real Madrid, I see a team of champions, both on the pitch and on the bench,” Gasp said.

“They are one of Europe’s best teams and had an outstanding transfer window. José left behind extraordinary affection and memories with everyone there. But this is a different kind of team now, very different from the one he coached. This side gives me great satisfaction because, even today, it took tremendous spirit, excellent fitness levels, and a huge heart to play the way we did in Como.”

Gasperini appeared relatively calm during the interview, but looked way more irritable when asked his verdict on Malen’s red.

COMO, ITALY – OCTOBER 11: Donyell Malen of AS Roma is challenged by Jacobo Ramon of Como 1907 during the Serie A match between Como 1907 and AS Roma at Giuseppe Sinigaglia Stadium on October 11, 2026 in Como, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

“I don’t know. There was a foul that was repeated beforehand,” he noted.

“I think it is difficult to argue that it was violent conduct. He reacted after being held back. He also touched the ball. What looks bad is the jump, but there was no intention to hurt anyone.

“Certainly, it was an incident that spoiled the match. It was a beautiful game, and afterwards it became a little less so.”

Gasperini was even more annoyed when DAZN displayed a zoomed-in replay of Malen’s challenge.

TURIN, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 14: Gian Piero Gasperini, Manager of AS Roma, looks on during the Serie A match between Torino FC and AS Roma at Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino on September 14, 2026 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images)

“If you freeze the frame, it becomes easy to judge, but football is not made up of still images; it is made up of actions,” he concluded.

“Otherwise, you can justify anything. There was no intent to injure, and that is the key point.

“It is time to stop judging situations through frozen frames because they distort reality. We suffered because of that approach for years. This season we are seeing a more authentic version of football. Please, let’s not go back to these absurd freeze-frames.”