Roma finishing fourth would make Gasperini 'very happy'

Roma are just three points off the Serie A summit but head coach Gian Piero Gasperini would welcome a fourth-placed finish this season.

Wesley's low, cross-goal strike in the 60th minute earned the Giallorossi a 1-0 triumph over Como at the Stadio Olimpico on Monday.

It was Roma's 10th win from their opening 15 games – their best start to a season since 2017-18, when they managed 11 victories.

Asked if he would be satisfied with Roma's position were the season to finish now, Gasperini told Sky Sport Italia: "I never settle early, but I would be very happy with that.

"More than the final position, I want to focus on us putting in this kind of performance. We have incredible fans. We can sense something extra when we get a deserved victory – there is an extra enthusiasm and it's contagious, so we needed that on home turf."

Roma could strengthen their position in the top four by beating fifth-placed Juventus, who trail them by four points, in Turin on Saturday.

That would also boost their hopes of mounting a challenge for a first Scudetto since 2001, but Gasperini acknowledged that teams like Inter and Napoli may be better equipped to go all the way.

"It's an understandable viewpoint, but these lads give their heart and soul. Theoretically, there are stronger players in other teams, but do they have the same spirit, the same work ethic?" said Gasperini.

"At this moment, we're a good team and we're working to get better. It's never easy for anyone against us. We hope to continue with this spirit."

Injury-plagued Como forward Assane Diao managed just 37 minutes before going off with a hamstring injury.

Cesc Fabregas was keen for Diao to make just his sixth Serie A appearance of the season before going off to represent Senegal at the Africa Cup of Nations.

Fabregas had asked Senegal coach Pape Thiaw not to select Diao for the competition given his physical struggles, but he was still included in the squad.

"I am a huge fan of international teams, I am really glad when my players are called for international duty, it's a big thing for a player," said Fabregas.

"I just asked for a little common sense for them not to call him, because this is a player who barely featured for eight months as he keeps getting hurt and can find no consistency.

"He probably shouldn't have played today either, but I picked him because he's leaving and I won't have him for five weeks, so we pay his wages, at least let him play for us a bit.

"[Thiaw] said if Diao doesn't come with us, he won't go to the World Cup. That's not fair. It plays on the fears of the player. He is 20 years old and has a whole career ahead of him. I don't agree with this, it was not fair and not right."