Roma needed a bit of good news, and they finally got some. Paulo Dybala and Evan Ndicka were both expected to be available for Saturday’s clash with Atalanta at the Olimpico, which is exactly the kind of update that matters when a team is staring at three games in one week and trying not to turn selection into a damage limitation exercise.
This is not about drama for drama’s sake. It is about availability, balance and the simple fact that Roma do not have the luxury of being casual with fitness right now. Gian Piero Gasperini made that clear when he said Dybala’s tests showed nothing out of the ordinary and that the forward would train again, while Ndicka was “a lot better” and could be tried in training. In a week where the Champions League return in Turkey follows quickly after Atalanta, those are not minor details. They are the difference between a plan and a scramble.
Dybala and Ndicka move towards selection
The Dybala update is the more reassuring one on paper. Early Friday reports had suggested muscular fatigue, but he then took part fully in training on the eve of the match. Gasperini’s message was essentially calm but practical: the key thing is that Dybala feels confident and comfortable, because Roma need him across a week packed with important fixtures. That is the reality of modern scheduling. One nagging issue can quickly become a selection crisis.
Ndicka’s situation is slightly different, but just as useful for Roma. Last Monday he was originally listed as a starter before withdrawing because of discomfort before kick-off, so getting him back into contention matters. Gasperini said he would be tested in training, which at this stage sounds more encouraging than alarming. Roma do not need more uncertainty when they are trying to keep their best players available for a run that includes Atalanta, a trip to Turkey and the pressure that follows after the international break.
Pellegrini is still behind the curve
There was less certainty around Lorenzo Pellegrini, and Gasperini did not dress that up. He said Pellegrini has started to work with the group a bit, but that a match may be more realistic against Inter or after the break. That is a clear indication that Roma are still waiting for him to rebuild match fitness properly. In a week when the coach is trying to avoid heavy rotation, that is one less option he can lean on immediately.
Gasperini also offered a more expansive view of two younger names, Rodrigo Mora and Niccolo Pisilli. Mora has already played two games in two, and the coach made the obvious point that youth should not be confused with rigid labels about starters and substitutes. His praise was straightforward: Mora has shown talent against Fiorentina and Lecce, but still has plenty of room to grow physically and in terms of stamina and endurance. Pisilli, meanwhile, was described as well ahead, more mature and a strong player, with Gasperini stressing that there is no hierarchy among the four midfield options he has available.
That final point is probably the most revealing. Gasperini said there are four players there and that he does not do hierarchies. De Roon, Leonardo Balerdi and the new signings still need to get into peak condition, so they are likely to be used in spells before possibly playing a full game after the international break. Pisilli, Manu Kone and Bryan Cristante are all solid, and the coach’s message was simple: if someone is fatigued, the fresher player goes in. No sentiment. No status games. Just form, fitness and availability.
For Roma, that is the right sort of problem to have. Dybala and Ndicka being close to returning gives Gasperini more control ahead of a demanding stretch, even if Pellegrini is still being managed carefully. After a week like this, control matters. Not glamour, not noise, not theory. Just getting enough of the right players on the pitch at the right time.
