Balbo: Roma can compete for the title, Malen is outstanding

Radio pundits Fabrizio Aspri and Andrea Pugliese have praised Gian Piero Gasperini's handling of Mora, with Aspri calling the coach very intelligent for the way he has used the player. Aspri said: "The situation with Mora tells us that Gasperini is very intelligent. Mora was not a useful player for the coach. The player is moving very well, that goal is a number 10's goal. Not everyone makes that diagonal run, and it is important players who score those goals. Gasperini is wise and has re-evaluated the player. Well done Gasperini first and foremost, and a little further on, well done Mora." Aspri said Roma have found the right way to make their chances count, though there is always room for improvement. He added: "Roma are the team with the best football." He praised the defensive unit, which he said gives the side more and more security. Turning to Donyell Malen, Aspri said the forward is useful and valuable but is sometimes seen struggling. He said: "I don't rate him as a normal player, he has something extra. I would like him more as a centre-forward, occupying the box more often. He drops too deep to link play too often." He added: "Roma must change, they must not fail in the big head-to-head games." Pugliese was more critical of Mora's role. He said: "Mora is an attacking midfielder, he doesn't have the pace to play on the flank. In January D'Amico will find a winger with legs. Mora was not used to defending at Porto. Last year he had different numbers." On Malen, Pugliese said the forward did not expect the assist from Matías Soulé when he missed a chance. Looking ahead, he said Bologna are a side in form and that the giallorossi must arrive there with six points. He noted that Roma have drawn with Inter, Como and Napoli this season, adding: "If you want to make the real leap you have to win the head-to-head games."

Radio pundits across Rome's stations have debated whether Manu Koné should be called up by France and whether Roma are over-reliant on Malen and Dybala ahead of the match against Sassuolo. Alessio Nardo of Tele Radio Stereo said: "If Koné, after missing several matches, answered France's call-up, it would annoy me. He is coming back after a long stop and it would not be ideal. Everyone looks after their own interests. Zidane could also consider him available, let's see what happens, but I hope not." He added that France have plenty of alternatives and that Koné, returning from a long injury, could be rested. The debate follows the defeat to Manchester, which David Rossi of Rete Sport called unjustified. He said: "I am surprised by the negativity that has been generated after the defeat at Manchester. It is unjustifiable; you lost to teams with greater resources than yours. Wouldn't you have signed up, at this point, to have lost only to Real and Manchester? We always lose sight of the bigger picture. Roma are a very strong side, built to earn more points than last year: the starting base is 73 points. For me this is an 80-point side, which certainly means Champions League again. Contrary to what some think, that is very important. It is unacceptable to hear that Roma must leave the Champions League." Rossi also noted that a draw between Inter and Como, combined with a Napoli win over Lazio, would make the round unfavourable if Roma failed to beat Sassuolo. Gianluca Piacentini of Rete Sport said Roma must take advantage of their chances. He said: "If that defeat to Manchester had not come, with that dynamic and yet another comeback conceded, we would now be saying Roma started clear favourites against Sassuolo. The fear is that there are more psychological than physical after-effects. The same applies as after Real: one way or another, you have to bring it home. Tactically, it is better to face Sassuolo than Genoa, because putting up barricades is not in their DNA." Roberto Pruzzo of Radio Radio said Roma need to bounce back immediately. He said: "Against Sassuolo you need to restart immediately after the disappointment of Manchester. Sassuolo have conceded 10 goals in their last two matches, Aquilani is in great difficulty, and his side does not have the strength to react. Roma must face the game in the best possible way, looking for satisfaction in attack. Malen also has the odd lapse, and I back Castro, but apart from that great goal he never plays. Maybe there is room for him too. I often refer to the transfer market: you have had only reserves, there is no first-choice player apart from De Roon." Nando Orsi of Radio Radio questioned the dependence on Malen and Dybala. He said: "If Malen is in a slump and Dybala does not play, what happens? Isn't Roma too dependent on those two? Malen was scoring a lot alongside Dybala, now he seems more in difficulty. You need alternatives, because if Malen does not score, you struggle. On Dybala, perhaps Gasperini's management was wrong, making him play ninety minutes every time to prove what..." Mario Mattioli of Radio Radio said Sassuolo are unpredictable and that Roma are not at their brightest. He said: "Sassuolo are a team on a rollercoaster and could wake up and become the side of three weeks ago. Roma are not going through one of their most brilliant moments; I have noticed glaring flaws. This is not the Roma of three weeks ago. Sassuolo's last outing did not leave them unscathed, but if they have recovered they can put Roma in difficulty. Roma can win, but not comfortably." On Dybala, Mattioli also questioned his diet, saying: "Are we sure he is not eating something that affects his muscle tissue? I did a lot of athletics and they even controlled your food." Piero Torri of Manà Manà Sport said there was something about Koné's intentions that remained unclear, asking whether he wanted to play for France. He said: "I would not sincerely send him to risk it, also because France play two real matches, one against Italy. Koné knows he has strong competition in his role for his national team, but Roma pay the price. If he gets injured again, we are back to square one." Lorenzo Pes of Tele Radio Stereo said Koné is fit and that a call-up could be justified, while Roma would have the final say. He said Roma may prefer caution, in which case Koné would be unlikely to be called up. He added that Roma would like to keep him, while the player has recovered. Pes said the decisive day was expected to be the one that followed, and on Gollini: "It's unlikely he will be available tomorrow; he will try until the end, but until yesterday it was very complicated. So I think Vásquez will play, but I don't see that much difference." The pundits' comments centre on how Roma respond to the Manchester defeat and their Sassuolo fixture, with the Koné decision and Dybala's condition still being discussed.

Roman radio pundits have debated Roma's current form ahead of their match against Sassuolo, with several insisting the club must win but cannot afford to play badly. Ugo Trani said: "Gasperini will have to deal with those who are not well. Ghilardi could play in place of Mancini, and Mora has a chance to start. Sassuolo will come to shut up shop, and Roma will have to play well in front. Right now there are three teams doing more than their value: Frosinone, Lazio and Roma. Como are doing their part, Roma are not. When de Roon arrived, people insulted whoever signed him, and now you cannot take him off the pitch." The debate also centred on Manu Koné's position with France. Piero Torri said: "There is something about Koné we do not know: does he want to go to the national team or not? Because if he wants to go to the national team, he is pushing... Honestly, I would not send him to risk it, especially since France play two real matches, one against Italy. Koné knows he has strong competition in his role in the national team, but Roma pay for it. Because if he gets hurt again, we are back to square one, and we cannot allow that." Lorenzo Pes said: "Koné is fine and in my opinion the call-up can happen. If they prefer caution, avoiding both Sassuolo and France, that would be the right choice. The final word belongs to Roma: if Roma want caution, he will hardly be called up and go to the national team. Koné, however, is not someone uninterested in the national team. On one side Roma would like to keep him, on the other there is the evidence that the player has recovered. We will see, let us wait for today, which should be the crucial one." On Gollini, Pes added: "It is unlikely he will be available tomorrow. He will try until the end, but until yesterday it was very complicated. So I think Vásquez will play, but I do not see all that much difference." Mario Mattioli said: "Given how Sassuolo are built, the rollercoaster is normal. They could also wake up. In my view, Roma are not going through one of their most brilliant moments either. I have seen cracks, and I do not know whether they come from a tiredness that is understandable or from something else. It is not, however, the Roma of three weeks ago. If Sassuolo recover, they can cause difficulties. But I believe Roma must and can win it, not comfortably, but they can do it." Asked about Dybala, Mattioli wondered: "Could the problem be diet? Are we sure he is not eating something that affects his muscle tissue?" Roberto Pruzzo said: "Roma need to bounce back immediately after the disappointment in Manchester. Sassuolo are clearly in difficulty, starting with Aquilani. The black-and-green side is not giving any more signals. This should allow Roma to manage the match or at least administer it in the best possible way. Castro is a player I back, but apart from that great goal he practically never plays: who knows, there could be room for him too." Nando Orsi questioned Roma's dependence on Dybala and Malen: "Is Roma not a little too dependent on Dybala and Malen? When Dybala was there, Malen scored a lot of goals. Today, he seems to be struggling a bit. If he does not score, an alternative is needed. Dybala will not score, but he makes assists. With Dybala, perhaps Gasperini's management was wrong, this idea of always having him play ninety minutes to prove what..."

Gianluca Mancini will miss Italy's international fixtures after suffering a fresh pain in his right hamstring that forced him out of Roma's clash with Sassuolo. The defender will stay at Trigoria during the two-week break to continue his recovery, with the aim of returning for the league match against Parma. Thirteen Roma first-team players have been called up by their national teams. With Mancini out, only Ghilardi and Pisilli will travel to Italy's senior squad, while young Lulli is set to feature for Baldini's Italy Under-21 side. Mancini had already reported a muscle problem in the days before the Sassuolo game. Gasperini will use the break to recharge and take stock of the injury list. He has welcomed back Koné for the Sassuolo match and is optimistic about players returning for the resumption of competitions. The international picture is wide-ranging. Vásquez returns to the Colombia squad for the first time in three years, a welcome note after a special week that saw the goalkeeper make his Champions League and Serie A debuts for Roma. Young De Marzi has been called up by the USA Under-20s. Balerdi, Castro and Soulé will answer Argentina coach Scaloni's call. Wesley joins Brazil under Ancelotti, while Malen will play under Xavi for the Netherlands for the first time. N'Dicka (Ivory Coast) and Koulierakis (Greece) have also been named. Nineteen-year-old Rodrigo Mora is ready to make his senior debut for Portugal. On the injury front, Dybala's condition is improving markedly, and the break offers him the ideal chance to regain his best form. Mile Svilar is set to return between the posts in Parma, having put his right foot fracture firmly behind him.

Roma bounced back from their defeats to Real Madrid and Manchester United with a 3-0 win over Sassuolo, a result that briefly left them one point behind the Serie A leaders. The match was effectively decided in just over twenty minutes. Sassuolo coach Alberto Aquilani set his side out with almost everyone behind the ball, looking to crowd the midfield and close off space on the edge of the box, and for a while the plan worked, even though Roma had already begun to create danger. Then Mario Hermoso, who for one evening played as a centre-forward, controlled the ball in the area and drove a powerful left-foot shot under the crossbar. From that moment the game changed. Roma grew in confidence while Sassuolo lost their shape and belief. Three minutes later, Donyell Malen's shot was deflected into his own net by Walukiewicz, which effectively settled the contest. Roma kept attacking, building and looking for goals, and early in the second half Rodrigo Mora added his name to the scoresheet, another step forward for the 19-year-old, who is growing visibly. The rest was a Roma monologue, with Sassuolo unable to trouble Vásquez. The result is significant because of the way Roma won it. Gasperini's side were not overwhelmed by a stronger opponent. They were patient, ruthless when the opening came and mature in their response to disappointment. The Champions League defeats to Real Madrid and Manchester United showed that there is still progress to make against the very best, but in Serie A Roma have answered each setback immediately. After the Real Madrid defeat they won, and after Manchester they did the same. Roma have now collected 27 points from eleven matches, have won three league games in a row and sat second in the table, one point off the top, for a night. The result came after a punishing run of nine matches in 27 days, a schedule Gasperini himself pointed out. Malen had one of his less productive evenings in front of goal, wasting chances he would normally convert, even though team-mates tried everything to set him up. He still played a part in Hermoso's goal, caused the own goal that doubled the lead and provided the assist for Mora. Roma won 3-0 without a goal from their centre-forward and even wasted others. Defensively, another clean sheet restored calm to a back line that had suffered some lapses recently. Manu Koné also returned, and his presence in midfield was clearly felt, bringing dynamism, aggression and balance to a area that had been badly missed in recent weeks. Mora said: "Sono sulla strada giusta. La Roma è forte, si vede anche in allenamento." Gasperini, asked whether he would be satisfied with second place, replied: "È bello giocarlo questo campionato. Noi ce lo stiamo veramente giocando." Roma reach the international break in strong form. Gasperini is expected to regain Svilar and, hopefully, Dybala after the break, two key players who could add quality and options to a squad already performing well. Injuries have been the main obstacle to the coach's selection choices so far. Tomorrow, Inter host Como and Lazio travel to Napoli, and Roma will watch the results from the sidelines, with a chance that their position could improve. Sporting director D'Amico confirmed before the match that the team lacks a quick, attacking winger and promised that the club will try to fill that gap in January.

Gian Piero Gasperini has said Roma will not settle for second place after a 3-0 win over Udinese, a result that took him to 303 Serie A victories, passing the legendary Nereo Rocco and setting a new personal record for the coach. The win also extended Roma's run to 18 consecutive useful home league games at the Stadio Olimpico, a sign of renewed solidity at home and of a squad that has responded to every tactical and mental demand placed on it. Speaking after the match, Gasperini rejected any scaling back of Roma's ambitions. He said: "I won't settle for second place. The beauty is fighting for this championship until the end. Of course, we mustn't fool ourselves too much, but it is imperative to believe." He named Inter as the main favourites, adding: "Inter are rightly the stronger favourites, but if they slip up a little... we can compete. We are there." The coach also praised the team's growing threat in front of goal: "We are increasing our ability to score a lot, we do it in many ways and we are happy about this." On the injury front, Mancini has picked up a strain to his right hamstring. Roma expect to have both Svilar and Dybala fully recovered for the trip to Parma after the international break.

Roma comfortably beat Sassuolo 3-0 last night, with goals from Hermoso, an own goal by Walukiewicz and a late strike from Mora completing the win. Italian newspapers handed out their player ratings, with Hermoso and Mora the standouts. Gazzetta dello Sport gave Hermoso 7.5 and Mora 7, while Corriere dello Sport rated Hermoso an 8 and Soulé 7.5, with Mora also at 7.5. Il Messaggero gave Hermoso 7.5 and Mora 7, and Corriere della Sera rated Hermoso 7.5 and Mora 7. La Repubblica gave Hermoso 7.5 and Mora 7, and Il Tempo rated Mora 7 and Balerdi and Ndicka 7. Coach Gasperini was rated 7 by Gazzetta, Il Tempo, La Repubblica and Corriere della Sera, and 7.5 by Corriere dello Sport. Across the newspapers, Vásquez, Molina, Wesley and Malen received mostly solid marks, with Koné and Cristante generally rated 6.5 to 7. Pisilli and De Roon were typically given 6, and Castro and Koulierakis were rated 6 by Gazzetta and Corriere dello Sport, with several reports not assigning them a mark.

Mora says his form has turned around after a difficult start, with three goals in a row lifting his confidence and his standing in the Roma side. "Things weren't going well a month ago, but things change," he said, describing his magical run. The Portuguese forward struggled early on and admitted it himself, with some understandable difficulties complicating his progress before something clicked. Gian Piero Gasperini can no longer do without him, having always regarded him as a "superior" player who simply needed time, and less of it than expected was needed. His latest strike came against Sassuolo, his second goal at the Olimpico, and it was another gem, the latest of the season. He now has four Serie A goals, one more than Nico Paz, who has three. His output has him second in Roma's scoring charts behind Donyell Malen, who has eight. Those who doubted he was ready for the biggest stages have been forced to think again, and he was applauded at Old Trafford in the first half. Asked for the secret, Mora pointed to hard work: "I'm improving in everything, every day." He has understood Gasperini's methods and thrown himself into them, day after day. That commitment has also earned him a call-up to the Portugal squad. "It's a good moment for me and my family," he said. Portuguese supporters will now get to enjoy his talent just as the farewell to their idol, Cristiano Ronaldo, approaches. Mora may one day rewrite his country's history as Ronaldo did, but he is not thinking about that and is taking things one small step at a time.

Radio pundits Fabrizio Aspri and Andrea Pugliese have praised Gian Piero Gasperini's handling of Mora, with Aspri calling the coach very intelligent for the way he has used the player. Aspri said: "The situation with Mora tells us that Gasperini is very intelligent. Mora was not a useful player for the coach. The player is moving very well, that goal is a number 10's goal. Not everyone makes that diagonal run, and it is important players who score those goals. Gasperini is wise and has re-evaluated the player. Well done Gasperini first and foremost, and a little further on, well done Mora." Aspri said Roma have found the right way to make their chances count, though there is always room for improvement. He added: "Roma are the team with the best football." He praised the defensive unit, which he said gives the side more and more security. Turning to Donyell Malen, Aspri said the forward is useful and valuable but is sometimes seen struggling. He said: "I don't rate him as a normal player, he has something extra. I would like him more as a centre-forward, occupying the box more often. He drops too deep to link play too often." He added: "Roma must change, they must not fail in the big head-to-head games." Pugliese was more critical of Mora's role. He said: "Mora is an attacking midfielder, he doesn't have the pace to play on the flank. In January D'Amico will find a winger with legs. Mora was not used to defending at Porto. Last year he had different numbers." On Malen, Pugliese said the forward did not expect the assist from Matías Soulé when he missed a chance. Looking ahead, he said Bologna are a side in form and that the giallorossi must arrive there with six points. He noted that Roma have drawn with Inter, Como and Napoli this season, adding: "If you want to make the real leap you have to win the head-to-head games."