Saturday in Serie A turned into a real "match of the heart" for Abel Balbo, former Roma and Udinese striker, who met the home team in a match that required an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport just before kick-off. In his interview, Balbo expressed his confidence in Gasperini's team, stating that Roma can really aspire to the title, but he also nostalgically remembered the Roma of 2001, an era he considered "different stuff".
Balbo began his interview with a tone of great enthusiasm, declaring that Roma is "strong, really strong", and praised the solidity of the group, made up of players with multiple qualities. He underlined how Gasperini manages to make his players give their all, making them "throw themselves into the fire" for him. Among the protagonists, he mentioned Soulé as a born leader, capable of taking charge of the team, and Balerdi as the ideal player for a coach like Gasperini.
As for the championship prospects, Balbo is convinced that Roma can win the scudetto, even if they will have to face a "better equipped" Inter both on the pitch and in terms of resources. He predicted that Roma will have to maintain their position as opponents until the end, ready to seize every opportunity should the Nerazzurri make a misstep. His message is clear: Gasperini's Roma is capable of competing at a high level, but the road to victory will require constant commitment.
However, Balbo made a clear comparison between the current Roma and that of 2001, highlighting the differences. He said that today's team cannot be compared to that of that period, in which "we had champions in every department". He recalled being the fourth striker in a team with Basti, Totti and Montella, and underlined that in that context the chances of winning were practically certain.
In conclusion, Balbo left the audience with a positive thought on Gasperini's Roma, but reiterated that the 2001 team remains an era of great excellence. The Milan derby, which precedes the Udinese-Roma match, has added further tension to the championship, as Roma prepares to challenge Inter and demonstrate that they are a serious candidate for the Scudetto.