Gasperini: Roma’s Never-Say-Die Spirit at Napoli Proves Scudetto Credentials

FolioPitch.com – 25 October 2026 | Gian Piero Gasperini believes Roma’s remarkable 3-3 draw at Napoli was far more than a point gained — it was proof his side possesses the mentality of genuine Serie A contenders. Speaking after a breathless night at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, the Giallorossi coach underlined that Gasperini Roma felt we could win 3-3 at Napoli a positive confidence booster, even after his team had twice fallen behind against the reigning champions.

Roma looked down and out inside the opening half-hour. Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa produced an acrobatic bicycle kick to open the scoring, and Scott McTominay doubled Napoli’s advantage with a thumping header. For a spell, the visitors struggled to play out from the back under intense pressure, and the game threatened to slip away entirely.

Yet the response was emphatic. Matias Soule pulled one back, and Leonardo Balerdi levelled within a five-minute burst either side of the interval, turning the contest on its head. When McTominay restored Napoli’s lead with a strike from outside the box, the momentum seemed to swing back to the hosts — but Roma refused to fold. In the 89th minute, Balerdi rose at the back post to nod in a Wesley cross and seal a dramatic share of the spoils.

A Point That Feels Like a Statement

Gasperini was candid in his assessment of the opening period, admitting Napoli were superior and that his side laboured in possession. But he was quick to highlight the character shown thereafter.

“Apart from the first half-hour, where Napoli were superior and we struggled playing out from the back, we already started to do better towards half-time and then in the second half it was wide open with many chances,” Gasperini told DAZN Italia. “We felt that we could win the game, so that third Napoli goal could’ve destroyed us, but instead we got back on track and felt this great conviction we could bring home three points.”

That conviction, he argued, is precisely why Gasperini Roma felt we could win 3-3 at Napoli a positive confidence booster is an accurate reflection of the mood in the dressing room. There was no panic, no wild scrambling — just composure, maintained positions and a commitment to the style of football the coach has instilled.

“The lads were not frenetic, they didn’t panic, we maintained our positions and our style of football,” he added. “The goals came from quality football too, we had fresh energy with Balerdi, Molina and the others who came off the bench.”

Balerdi Repays Gasperini’s Faith

Balerdi, a late summer arrival, emerged as the unlikely hero with two goals, and Gasperini was lavish in his praise for the Argentine defender’s rapid adaptation.

“There is no doubt that Balerdi and De Roon were leaders and captains at their clubs, their support has been extraordinary,” Gasperini said. “They settled in very quickly, it was easier with De Roon because I worked with him for so many years, but Balerdi knows football, understood the defensive movements very quickly, he has remarkable energy and today scored two goals. A great reinforcement.”

The coach also singled out Soule for an “extraordinary performance,” along with Ndicka and others, as evidence of a squad hitting a rich vein of form. With real self-belief coursing through the group, Gasperini insisted the result felt like two points dropped rather than one gained — a telling sign of raised expectations.

Competitive Against the Best

Roma have now drawn all three of their biggest Serie A fixtures this season: a 2-2 with Inter, a 0-0 at Como despite playing much of the second half with ten men, and this 3-3 thriller in Naples. Gasperini sees a common thread.

“They are all very different matches, but in all three we felt that we were very competitive with the best in the league,” he noted. “We came close to beating Inter, even if they recovered two goals, while with Como we were down to 10 men for practically the entire second half, but in the first half were positive. Today, considering the quality of Napoli, having come back to get the result was another positive confidence booster for us.”

That sentiment — that Gasperini Roma felt we could win 3-3 at Napoli a positive confidence booster — has become something of a mantra for a side increasingly convinced of its own quality. Napoli have won the Scudetto twice in recent years, and Gasperini argued that matching them toe-to-toe offers a psychological springboard for the months ahead.

“Napoli won the Scudetto twice in the last few years, so if you are competitive against them, it gives you the strength and confidence to fight it out with anyone,” he said.

The evening ended with a touch of humour, too. Gasperini and Napoli boss Massimiliano Allegri are close friends, and the Roma coach was asked whether he had crossed paths with his counterpart after a red card on the touchline.

“No. I hope he wasn’t angry with me, I wasn’t the one who sent him off!” Gasperini smiled.

Conclusion

For Roma, the night in Naples will be remembered less for the two-goal deficit and more for the refusal to accept defeat. Gasperini’s side showed resilience, quality and no shortage of nerve, twice fighting back against the champions in their own stadium. The coach’s insistence that Gasperini Roma felt we could win 3-3 at Napoli a positive confidence booster captures the shifting psychology at the club: draws against the elite are no longer celebrated as surprises but measured against the standard of victory. If Roma can convert that conviction into consistency, the Giallorossi may yet prove that their belief is more than just talk.