Bah vows to return stronger after cruciate ligament injury

Lorenzo Pellegrini has decided against surgery on his fresh muscle injury, choosing to risk a further setback in order to try to be available for the second half of the season. The midfielder suffered the injury only two days after his last football post, which came on 18 October following Roma's win over Genoa, in which he wrote: "Vittoria importante per il nostro cammino e...minuti fondamentali in campo per il mio cammino." The setback came with the Slovan fixture, and it halts a comeback that had been building. The injury is more serious than his previous muscle problem. Pellegrini faced two options: recovery, which would take around three months and would not protect him from relapses, or surgery, which might solve the problem but would effectively end his season. He has opted against the operation. Roma's midfielder has been without fresh public comment, and the silence reflects his disappointment at stopping again at the start of his road back to fitness. Pellegrini has played 72 minutes in Serie A and 78 in the Champions League this season. His contract expires again in June, and this time there are very few chances of a renewal. He accepted a one-year deal with a sharply reduced salary, and he is keen to help silence critics and to convince the Friedkin Group that he can still be useful in the future. Reports suggest a move away at the end of the year is highly likely, and Besiktas and Juventus knocked on the door last summer, but he did not entertain those offers then and is not considering them now. For now, he will cheer on his team before making one last attempt to return.

Former Roma player Vincent Candela has urged the club not to settle for less, backing Gian Piero Gasperini's approach and insisting the side can push Inter until the end of the Serie A title race. Speaking to Il Messaggero, Candela praised Gasperini's work, the progress of Matías Soulé and the solidity of the midfield, while also highlighting the impact of Donyell Malen. He also sent a message to the transfer market: "If a couple of missing pieces arrive, we can have even more fun." Roma return to training at Trigoria tomorrow afternoon, and Gasperini is set to gradually bring back Paulo Dybala and Mile Svilar. Svilar, recovering from a stress fracture in the fifth toe of his foot, will undergo a new check-up. Koné and Nahuel Molina will remain at Trigoria during the break. Molina's recall to the national squad has been halted by the club, a call-up that would have meant returning to the capital just two days before the league resumes. Gasperini's side have set a new record in the club's history, scoring 31 goals in the first 11 Serie A matchdays, a figure never previously reached. The previous best was 28 goals in the 1960-61 season. Roma remain unbeaten in Serie A, as are Lazio, and among the top five European leagues they share this record only with Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund. Roma have also not lost at the Stadio Olimpico for over a year.

Gian Piero Gasperini can count on the return of Mile Svilar and Paulo Dybala for Roma's Serie A trip to Parma on 21 November, barring setbacks. The international break gives the coach a welcome boost as Roma aim to stay near the top of Serie A and climb the table in the Champions League. After two rest days granted by Gasperini, Roma reconvene at Trigoria tomorrow afternoon and train until Saturday morning. Dybala and Svilar will gradually rejoin the group. Svilar is due a further check-up after recovering from a stress fracture to the fifth toe of his foot. His rehabilitation, carried out between Belgium and Italy, has gone well, and he is set to be in goal against Parma on 21 November. Manu Koné and Nahuel Molina will also remain at Trigoria. Molina's omission has been decided by Roma; Scaloni has accepted the situation, making do with Balerdi, Soulé and Castro. La Gazzetta dello Sport reports that the break comes at the right moment to recover Dybala, the Joya, who is one of the key players for the squad. Roma are looking to stay in contention at the top of Serie A while working their way back up the Champions League standings.