Gian Piero Gasperini’s AS Roma have won four out of their last five league games, conceding just three goals this entire campaign.
This is a far cry from the teams Gasperini had at Atalanta, which scored goals galore after he effectively changed the attack time and time again.
Creating stars like Josip Iličić, Ademola Lookman, Papu Gomez, Luis Muriel, and Duván Zapata, Gasperini was not afraid to change key players often and, in a Sir Alex Ferguson-esque manner, successfully built new teams after new teams.
Gasperini has admirably changed his tactics and philosophy since arriving in Rome.
The 2025/2026 camp was built on the back of the league’s best defence.
French midfielder Manu Koné is a key part of this team.
Koné, valued at €50m by Transfermarkt, has been heavily linked with a move to Premier League giants Manchester United as they aim to continue their rebuild under Rúben Amorim, as well as the current defending European champions, PSG.
After moving to Roma in August 2024, I Giallorossi couldn’t believe how quickly Koné became indispensable to the team.
It’s hard to imagine this Roma side without Manu Koné.
Gasperini seems to agree, as Koné has played all eight league games this season thus far and is suited to a 3-4-3 system.
Whilst Koné isn’t necessarily an all-action midfielder and may have had a different role under the former Atalanta manager, it’s worth looking at the midfielder’s game.
This Manu Koné scout report examines the Roma midfielder and explains why he has become so in-demand.
Progression Centrally Through Runs
I would like to see Manu Koné do more of what I haven’t seen him do enough this season: drive the ball from defence or deep build-up into attack.
He has the physique and capabilities for it, but his role under Gasperini has shifted to a more ‘tempo-setting’ position, where he plays calm passes out of defence to the midfielders.
This goal in the UEFA Europa League highlighted his capabilities.
With a driving run from midfield, he shrugged off three defenders and laid the ball off for a finish.
I think it’s important to highlight this because Roma don’t have a player who can do this, bar Lorenzo Pellegrini, who plays more advanced football.
Manu Koné needs to take up this mantle, and the evidence from the past suggests that he is well-suited to do so.
