Gian Piero Gasperini reached 300 Serie A wins as Roma beat Genoa 2-0 at the Stadio Olimpico, becoming the fifth coach in the competition's history to reach that mark. He joins Nereo Rocco (302), Luciano Spalletti (306), Massimiliano Allegri (325) and Giovanni Trapattoni (352) in the club, and is the only one of the five yet to win the Scudetto. Asked about the record, Gasperini joked: "The record? It means some time has passed (laughs, ed.)."
The coach was most pleased with the response after the disappointing Champions League defeat to Real Madrid. Roma have collected 17 points from eight matchdays, their best start since 2014-15, the Garcia era. Gasperini said: "I had no doubts about the reaction, the group is extraordinary in character, but it was not easy at all. Those who were on the bench on Wednesday had energy in them, which is why I changed a lot. We unlocked it with an extraordinary move by Castro. The second half was of value." He also took a tactical swipe at José Mourinho, saying: "Genoa on the tactical side did not have Real's champions, but they caused us problems, especially in the first half."
Gasperini also spoke about the club's younger players. He said: "Last year I had just arrived. We have come a long way. They are all young lads who know very well that their minutes will be very high. With such a crowded fixture schedule we need everyone to feel like a starter." The coach's young side featured prominently against Genoa. Emanuele Lulli, born in 2007, a full-back who came close to leaving in the summer and is now a fixed point in the squad, scored. Gasperini said: "The nicest thing is seeing his face when he scored, the happiness and the uncontainable joy of this boy. He was good, he went to close off on the far post an action that perhaps until some time ago he didn't do. When you see these boys evolve like this in their confidence and ability, it is a satisfaction."
Santiago Castro, born in 2004, scored the goal that broke the deadlock. Gasperini said: "I haven't seen many goals made like that. I remember some on the turn, but a little scoop like that, with that clarity, from that position... there was no space, had he kicked it differently he would have hit some player. He wanted to put it there, with the outside of the foot, incredible. A bit like Ilicic in terms of genius? Yes, but with two different roles."
Genoa coach Daniele De Rossi was disappointed, his side losing at the Olimpico for the second consecutive year. He said: "Last year too Roma were stronger than us and in the return we won, so matches must be played. Until the 50th minute it was a balanced game, then came Castro's masterpiece. That goal dropped us a bit, it took away certainties, but we stayed in the match until the end."
Story Coverage7 sources on this story
Roma beat Genoa 2-0 at the Stadio Olimpico in the seventh round of Serie A, with both goals coming in the second half. The win followed their Champions League defeat to Real Madrid, where a 3-1 lead became a 3-4 loss. Gian Piero Gasperini was without Mile Svilar, Bryan Cristante, Manu Koné and Paulo Dybala through injury, and Donyell Malen was suspended. Outlets differ on the timing of Santiago Castro's opener: Forza Roma says 51 minutes, while GialloRossi.net says 50. Roma News describes Castro chipping the ball over Bijlow with the outside of his foot, and it says the goal came from a corner routine. GialloRossi.net credits Emanuele Lulli with winning the corner that led to the goal.
Reports also differ on how Lulli scored his goal. Roma News says he headed home at the end of a Matías Soulé move, Forza Roma says he finished from close range, and GialloRossi.net says he scored into an empty net after a deflected shot from Soulé. Castro, the club's new scorer, said after the match: "Sono contento perché era troppo importante vincere" ("I'm happy because winning was too important"). Gasperini praised his young side's second-half reading of the game.
The outlets also disagree on Roma's league position. Roma News says the win moved them into second place, GialloRossi.net's match report says they were level with Inter, and another GialloRossi.net piece puts them two points behind Inter. GialloRossi.net rated Lulli 7.5 and Castro 7, and Roma News reports that Robinho Jr made his Serie A debut late on. Sporting director Tony D'Amico said the club needs to add quality and wants to keep the young players it takes on loan.
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