Roma win could test Juve's Spalletti patience
Gian Piero Gasperini insists Monday's (AEDT) head-to-head clash between Roma and Juventus will not decide anything in the race to make Serie A's top four.
The Giallorossi currently sit fourth in Serie A, only behind third-placed Napoli because of their head-to-head record, but with a four-point lead over Juventus in fifth.
Luciano Spalletti's team has suffered back-to-back defeats in league play, against Inter Milan and Como, as well as exiting the UEFA Champions League with a 7-5 aggregate loss to Galatasaray.
Juventus is reportedly weighing up Spalletti's future, and a Roma win would represent another major blow to the Turin giant.
But Gasperini is not thinking that way, saying his only goal is for Roma to still be in contention when the closing weeks of the season arrive.
"I think the four points are significant for the path Roma have taken, but they are not decisive for the final standings," Gasperini said.
"They do not decide anything definitively. I think this is a race that will be decided much later. We need to get a result and stay in the race.
"As I have already said other times, we hope to be able to play for everything in the last few days, because that would mean that we are still in the fight."
Como and Atalanta are also in the mix, and Gasperini feels more points may be needed for UEFA Champions League qualification than usual, with Italy's hopes of getting an extra fifth spot appearing slim.
"I don't know, usually it was 70 to 72 points, maybe now it's even more," Gasperini said.
"Last year, there were many teams involved: there was Roma, there was Milan, there was Lazio. In short, the group was much larger.
"This year, maybe Bologna fell away earlier, Lazio fell away earlier, and the situation has changed.
"As I said before, right now it is huge if you manage to make a break with a series of consecutive victories. A positive streak can give you an important advantage and allow you to take advantage of the others."
