Capello crowns Roma title contenders alongside Inter

Roma are reflecting on a narrow defeat at Manchester United's Old Trafford, with Corriere della Sera highlighting both the individual progress within Gian Piero Gasperini's squad and the structural limits of a group that must compete on three fronts. Those limits, the report says, will require corrections in the January transfer window. Matías Soulé, now a key technical reference on the right side of the attack, is among the bright spots, along with the impact of Malen, who has produced important numbers in the giallorossi shirt, and the consistent form of Ndicka. However, a thin squad and an injury crisis have restricted Gasperini's rotations and exposed the gap with the top sides on Europe's biggest stages. The difficulties against the Red Devils were made worse by heavy absences in goal and in midfield. The club's management and Tony D'Amico, who is already working to identify the profiles needed in January, are reportedly targeting a midfielder and a left-sided winger to give Gasperini the alternatives he has asked for. The squad has returned to Trigoria to prepare for the Serie A clash with Sassuolo. The medical staff are monitoring Manu Koné, who is aiming for a rapid recovery, while the goalkeeping situation centres on Gollini, who is dealing with a back problem, with Colombian Devis Vásquez ready to step in again.

Roma's run of nine matches in 27 days ends at the Stadio Olimpico the day after next, bringing a demanding spell that has tested the squad on three fronts. The sequence began with Como and Sassuolo, with Champions League fixtures in between, and the last of them is the trip to Manchester United, who could overturn Roma's initial two-goal advantage. The working assumption, noted since late August, is that Roma have improved on last season's third-place finish. Simone Valdarchi, writing in Il Tempo, credits the greater understanding between coach and squad, with the club's transfer business also playing a part. A second, fairly obvious view is that the squad is short in depth. Even if it is not inadequate, it is thin enough to be stretched across three competitions. That is the stress test, and some players have passed it. Soulé's form over this period has stood out, and he has become a key technical reference in the trequarti. Still, the article argues that the team needs something more to keep progressing. D'Amico knows this well.

Roma's excellent run of results and defensive balance in Serie A has not carried over to the Champions League, where the club continues to suffer lapses in the big European fixtures, according to Il Messaggero. Gian Piero Gasperini's side have conceded 10 goals in Serie A while scoring 28, but in their seven continental matches, including the qualifiers and group stage, they have scored just 8 and conceded 10. The negative trend is compounded by 14 goals conceded across their last seven official games in all competitions. A key factor identified in the analysis is the enforced absence of Mile Svilar in goal. The Belgian keeper's injury has deprived the team of a charismatic figure and a fundamental reference point for the Giallorossi backline. Despite the efforts of Gollini beforehand, and the recent emergency debut of Devis Vásquez at Old Trafford, the absence of the first-choice keeper continues to be felt in decisive moments. The analysis also points to rotation and mentality under maximum pressure. Difficulties in managing a two-goal lead or in facing late comebacks by opponents reflect, the piece argues, the need to strengthen the squad available to Gasperini. The January transfer window could offer the chance to add experienced players capable of bringing weight and balance to support the club's European ambitions.