Agresti: Gasperini has reason for frustration despite Roma's dominance

Roma close the opening phase of the 2026-27 season unbeaten after their 2-2 draw with Inter, maintaining four wins and two draws across the opening block of fixtures. Manu Koné scored twice in that Inter match and heads the player ratings across Italian media with an average of 7.9, rewarded for his dominant display. Bryan Cristante and Paulo Dybala both averaged 6.7, Nahuel Molina 6.6 and Leonardo Balerdi 6.5, while Gianluca Mancini registered the lowest average at 5.3 after an error that led to Lautaro Martinez's opening goal; among substitutes, Daniele Ghilardi struggled with 5.5. The international break presents a significant challenge to Gasperini's plans. Roma will have only seven players available during the roughly 20-day break: Mile Svilar, Pierluigi Gollini, Mario Hermoso, Molina, Devyne Rensch, Marten de Roon and Dybala. Even Dybala will leave for several days to attend Lionel Messi's farewell international match. With numbers so thin at the training ground, Roma will have to draw on Primavera players and schedule a couple of friendly matches. Training resumes on Monday afternoon after most of the squad departs to join their respective national teams over the weekend. Roma were 2-0 ahead at half-time against Inter before conceding twice in the second half to settle for the draw.

Roma drew 2–2 with Inter at the Olimpico in a top-of-the-table clash between the two in-form sides of the season. The major Italian sports newspapers published their player ratings following the final whistle, with a clear consensus emerging on the standout performances. Manu Koné drew the highest marks across all outlets, consistently rated 8 out of 10 for his midfield display. Paulo Dybala and Bryan Cristante also earned strong praise, with most papers rating them 7. The principal criticism fell on Gianluca Mancini, who received 5 or 5.5 across the board—the lowest mark given to any Roma starter. Gian Piero Gasperini, the head coach, was rated between 6 and 7 by the papers. Mile Svilar in goal, Leonardo Balerdi in defence, and Matías Soulé in attack all received ratings in the 6–7 range. Evan N'Dicka, who came on as a replacement after Mancini's 60th-minute departure, was rated 5.5 to 6.5 depending on the outlet. Devyne Rensch, who entered at the same juncture at left-back, received 5.5 to 6. Mario Hermoso drew ratings of 5 to 6 before being substituted in the 81st minute. Wesley earned marks of 5 to 6.5 at right-back, while Donyell Malen completed the attacking line with ratings of 5 to 6.5.

Manu Koné scored twice in Roma's match against Inter on 19 September, delivering one of his best performances in a giallorosso shirt and underlining his importance to Gasperini's project. The midfielder opened the scoring with a right-footed rebound inside the area before adding a second with his left foot under the crossbar—two different finishes that marked his first brace and only the fifth time in Roma's history that a player has scored twice in the first half against Inter, joining Pruzzo, Graziani, Balbo and Totti in that distinction. Koné's display highlights a dramatic shift in his game. Until now his physical and technical qualities—pace, ball-carrying, the ability to break lines—were never in doubt, but he lacked a cutting edge in the final third. Gasperini has explicitly asked him to fill that gap and add goal threat to his repertoire. If he can sustain that scoring form alongside his existing defensive and ball-winning skills, the Frenchman could transform into one of the world's best at his position. The timing carries extra weight: Inter had targeted Koné in previous transfer windows as the ideal midfielder to add force and dynamism to their engine room, and Roma resisted despite fan unease. Chelsea also moved more recently, reportedly discussing figures around €55 million, but Gasperini always viewed him as a cornerstone of the Roma project. When Koné was substituted after Inter equalised to make it 1–2, Gasperini explained his reasoning: "It was my choice, he didn't ask to come off. He was fading, he doesn't have the stamina for 90 minutes." That assessment is understandable given the intensity Koné expends in that system. Yet the sense remained that Roma needed him most at precisely that moment. Without the Frenchman, the side progressively lost ground, the ability to escape pressure and presence in the central duels. Inter seized control of the midfield and could conduct their attack with greater continuity. Koné is among the rare players capable of defending high, winning the ball and forcing opponents to worry even when Roma are attacking. Five of his six career goals in giallorosso have come at the Olimpico. The next phase of his development is learning to deliver that impact consistently across a full 90 minutes, not just in flashes. If he marries that newly found goal-scoring to his existing power, Roma may find themselves harbouring a world-class midfielder.