Hermoso: 'Gasperini changed Roma's mindset, we return to Champions League to assert ourselves'

Hook

The whistle at Şükrü Saracoğlu has not yet blown, but Mario Hermoso already feels the pulse of a team in transformation. In his pre-match interview against Fenerbahçe, the Spanish defender couldn't hide his excitement: “Gasperini brings a fresh wind. That high-intensity pressing style – it suits European competition more than anything I’ve experienced in Serie A in recent years.” This is not just praise; it’s a signal from the dressing room: Roma is ready for a European night after seven years away.

Context

Roma returns to the Champions League after seven long years. An impressive Serie A start, including a victory over Atalanta at home, has built solid momentum. But their first group-stage opponent – Fenerbahçe under Jose Mourinho – is no pushover. The Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium is famously passionate, and Hermoso knows it well: “We need resilience to face that fiery atmosphere. If we lose focus, everything can collapse in a minute.”

What has caught observers’ attention most is the tactical shift under Gian Piero Gasperini. The former Atalanta coach has implanted his high-pressing system into Roma’s DNA. Hermoso – who partnered top defenders at Atletico Madrid – notes: “The way we press, compress space, and transition quickly – it’s all designed for the Champions League. Gasperini didn’t just teach us to defend; he taught us to control the game’s rhythm.”

Core

From a perspective shaped by three decades of following Italian football, the change is no accident. Gasperini, who once turned Atalanta into a goal-scoring machine in the Europa League, applies the same high-intensity pressing that allowed his team to beat Liverpool at Anfield in 2026. Now he replicates it at Roma.

Early-season data shows: Roma ranks third in Serie A for ball recoveries in the final third (12.4 per game), behind only Inter and Napoli. Their PPDA (passes allowed per defensive action) stands at 8.7 – a hallmark of high-pressing football. Hermoso, with his Atletico discipline, plays a key role in maintaining defensive compactness.

But what happens when the opponent is Fenerbahçe – a side with a fluid attack featuring Dzeko, Tadic, and Szymański? Hermoso is direct: “We must protect our goal before thinking about scoring. In the Champions League, one mistake can cost the entire match. Defensive solidity is the foundation for our attack to express itself freely.”

I remember Roma’s 1-2 defeat to Brugge in last season’s Europa League – a loss caused by an overstretched formation. Gasperini surely watched the tape. The change in formation – from a flexible 3-4-2-1 to a 4-4-2 pressing block when losing possession – is clear evidence.

Contrarian

Outside, many dismiss Roma as mere learners on Europe’s grandest stage. They say: “Seven years absent, the squad is young, Gasperini has never won the Champions League.” But Hermoso disagrees. He sees a historic opportunity: “We’re not here to be anyone’s stepping stone. The goal is to make elite European nights routine. That demands patience and intensity from the very first match.”

The contrarian view: Roma’s seven-year absence is not a weakness – it’s motivation. No pressure to defend past glories, no ghosts of failure – only hunger to prove themselves. Gasperini has built a ‘fearless’ mentality in the dressing room. Look at how they dismantled Atalanta 4-1 last weekend: pressing from the centre circle, never giving the opponent time to think.

Of course, Mourinho’s Fenerbahçe won’t be easy prey. The Portuguese tactician is famous for closing spaces and exploiting mistakes. But if Roma maintains compactness for the first 60 minutes, opportunities will come from rapid transitions – exactly what Hermoso and his teammates have trained for weeks.

Takeaway

Tonight, as the ball rolls at Şükrü Saracoğlu, I will sit with my recorder and a bitter coffee. Not to wait for a beautiful goal, but to hear the heartbeat of a club reborn. The question isn’t whether Roma will win, but whether they dare to play the football Gasperini has instilled: pressing, passion, and no fear. If that happens, tonight will be the start of a long story. If not, at least we’ll have another memory – even a sad one – to remind us: “People don’t remember the score; they remember why they didn’t leave the bar.”