SASSUOLO, ITALY – OCTOBER 26: Lorenzo Pellegrini of AS Roma celebrates victory after during the Serie A match between US Sassuolo Calcio and AS Roma at Mapei Stadium Citta del Tricolore on October 26, 2025 in Sassuolo, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)
Lorenzo Pellegrini is ‘very happy as a player and a fan that Gian Piero Gasperini is the coach of Roma’ and hails Artem Dovbyk’s movement after beating Glasgow Rangers.
The Giallorossi were feeling under pressure following a series of painful defeats, to Lille and Viktoria Plzen in the Europa League, Inter and Milan in Serie A.
They seemed surprisingly comfortable at Ibrox, securing the 2-0 victory with Matias Soulé on a corner and Pellegrini sweeping in from a Dovbyk lay-off before half-time.
Pellegrini can see genuine Roma progress
GLASGOW, SCOTLAND – NOVEMBER 06: Players of AS Roma pose for a team photograph prior to the UEFA Europa League 2025/26 League Phase MD4 match between Rangers FC and AS Roma at Ibrox Stadium on November 06, 2025 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
“It was important to win today and recover lost ground, but despite what some might think, this was not an easy match,” Pellegrini told Sky Sport Italia.
“We wanted to give a sense of consistency and we can certainly do better, but we are on the right track.”
Roma had perhaps started the season stronger than expected under new coach Gian Piero Gasperini, then had a few stumbles, above all when it came to scoring goals.
“I think it is still early days, but what we must appreciate is the continual improvement of this team. We had results at the start of the season, but without the same determination and visible improvements that we saw today.
“The objective now is to keep improving and soon our real strength will be clear for us as well as everyone else.”
GLASGOW, SCOTLAND – NOVEMBER 06: Matias Soule of AS Roma celebrates scoring his team’s first goal during the UEFA Europa League 2025/26 League Phase MD4 match between Rangers FC and AS Roma at Ibrox Stadium on November 06, 2025 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
Pellegrini had started the season on the transfer market after being told his contract will not be renewed, but slowly managed to ease his way back into the squad.
“It was difficult at the start, as I was coming off an injury and missing match fitness, but from the derby onwards I had that consistency that I really wanted.
“Now I feel good physically, whether I come off the bench or start matches. I’m very happy, because it was a difficult summer on a psychological level too.
“The coach is very demanding, but he knows the right buttons to press. As a player and as a fan, I am very happy that he is the coach of Roma.”
UDINE, ITALY – JANUARY 26: Artem Dovbyk of AS Roma looks on during the Serie A match between Udinese and AS Roma at Stadio Friuli on January 26, 2025 in Udine, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)
Among the biggest changes that Gasperini has been trying to enact are in attack, where Pellegrini feels they are making genuine progress, as seen by today’s assist.
“We are trying to communicate a lot more. Artem had a couple of movements to shake off his marker today that perhaps a while ago he would not have tried, so if he does that more, we can get the ball to him in better positions.
“It’s something you have to work on, as it’s decisions in a split second on the pitch, but we’re all doing much better.”
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