Mancini on Champions League push: Roma focused on their own race

Roma's Primavera side face Hellas Verona on the final day of the regular season in a match with significant playoff implications. Victory would secure fourth place and home advantage in the playoff phase, while also giving Roma two favorable outcomes from three possible results. Coach Guidi stressed the importance of the fixture and urged his team to avoid the mental pitfalls that come with playing under pressure. Guidi highlighted finishing as a seasonal weakness despite the squad's strong overall play. He said: "A Verona will be a very important match for us, because we're playing for the chance to host the playoff match and have two results out of three available. The approach will be decisive, trying to play carefree, following what we did in terms of build-up, possession and continuity of play with Sassuolo, clearly improving in the finishing phase, which is somewhat our seasonal regret of a defect. We must be better at converting the large volume of play the team produces and be more incisive in front of goal." He also noted that Verona, with no objectives remaining, could play freely and create an unpredictable challenge. Regarding squad availability, Guidi confirmed the team is in good physical condition. Mirra is unavailable due to a shoulder problem sustained against Sassuolo, while Tumminelli's season has ended. Other squad members are fit for selection, with disciplinary suspensions to be reset after the Verona match.

Former Roma goalkeeper Julio Sergio made a surprise visit to the club's Trigoria training ground, where he met head coach Gian Piero Gasperini and several players, including current goalkeeper Mile Svilar. Sergio, who joined Roma's youth setup in 2006 and made his Serie A debut in 2009 under Luciano Spalletti, spoke warmly of his time at the club. "It is always a pleasure to come back here, where I was well and loved," he reflected on the visit. Sergio highlighted standout moments from Roma's 2009–10 season under Claudio Ranieri, including two crucial Derby della Capitale performances where he made decisive saves against Lazio. He drew parallels between that campaign and the upcoming derby, noting that while no title is at stake this time, qualification for the Champions League remains an important objective. On the current squad, Sergio expressed admiration for Wesley's development under Gasperini and praised Svilar's professionalism and focus: "He is without question among the top goalkeepers in the Italian league." Sergio also commended Gasperini's technical approach and managerial qualities, describing him as both accomplished tactically and approachable personally. He noted that Gasperini's success at Atalanta speaks for itself, and that Roma's current campaign under the coach has been excellent with potential to finish even stronger.

Former Roma midfielder Bove spoke during a press conference marking the 80th anniversary of Boreale, expressing his hopes for the club's future. He stated: "I hope Roma reach the Champions League. It's what I want for the city and for my teammates. As for Ranieri's departure? I'm not going into the details because I don't know them." Bove's comments come following Claudio Ranieri's exit as Roma manager in 2025. While the midfielder expressed optimism about Roma's prospects in the coming season, he remained cautious about discussing the circumstances surrounding the managerial change, indicating he lacks full knowledge of the situation. His remarks reflect broader sentiment within the club regarding competitive ambitions in Serie A. The press conference served as a platform for reflecting on Roma's institutional history alongside the anniversary celebration. Bove's guarded stance on internal club matters suggests uncertainty continues to surround recent developments in the coaching situation.

Roma defenders Gianluca Mancini and Lorenzo Pellegrini have been preparing for the upcoming Derby della Capitale by dining out at a well-known fish restaurant owned by Gianni Micalusi. During the meal, both players participated in a superstitious ritual by touching the restaurant owner's belly—a gesture the pair have reportedly performed on multiple occasions before. The players shared a post on social media with the caption "Ready for the derby," signaling their mental preparation for the capital city's biggest match. The derby between Roma and Lazio typically dominates conversation across Rome in the lead-up to the fixture, becoming a primary topic of discussion on social media and among fans and colleagues. This year's edition comes amid some organizational chaos regarding the match's scheduled date and time, with local authorities handling decisions on those details. Nevertheless, the intensity and importance of the Giallorossi's preparation—including these superstitious traditions—underscores how significant the derby remains for the club's players. Such pre-match rituals are common among footballers seeking mental edge or confidence before high-pressure fixtures. Mancini and Pellegrini's repeated visits to the same restaurant and their participation in the touching ritual demonstrate the psychological importance both players place on the contest ahead.

Gianluca Mancini spoke about Roma's push for Champions League qualification ahead of two crucial final matches. The defender attended the premiere of a documentary about Aldair, a Roma legend, where he addressed the team's ambitions. Mancini emphasized Roma's focus on controlling their own destiny in the title race, stating: "As I have said many times, we think about ourselves. We know that two matches remain, Sunday or Monday, we do not know yet, but there will be an important match, and the next one will be the same. So we are competing based on ourselves, knowing that we must make few mistakes and train hard as we are doing, to arrive at the matches as we are doing." With the derby della Capitale approaching, Roma faces a decisive window in their Champions League bid. The team's success depends on strong performances in their final two fixtures, with minimal room for error. Mancini also paid tribute to Aldair, the Roma defender from an earlier era. He said of the legend: "They told me about him, I was very small, but I saw him in videos and they told me to discover what he was, and he was truly an excellence as a defender, a phenomenon, a great. Then I also got to know him as a person and he is truly a great person. It is nice to be here tonight for him."

Roma secured victory at Parma amid controversy over a late penalty awarded to the Giallorossi, though that decision appears justified. Overshadowed by the awarded penalty was an earlier incident in the first half when Gianluca Mancini was brought down by Lautaro Valenti at 0–0, a contact the defender made first on the ball. VAR reviewed the incident but did not trigger an on-field review for referee Chiffi, who allowed play to continue. Former referee and Mediaset pundit Graziano Cesari sarcastically questioned the decision during analysis on Pressing. He remarked: "We have always heard that kicking an opponent is a penalty, no? Apparently changing the referee designator means it is no longer a penalty. Why does VAR not intervene? I can make a joke about it… Either the video was off, or they fell asleep, or nobody knocked." Cesari's final comment referenced previous controversy involving former designator Gianluca Rocchi, who allegedly signaled VAR officials from studios in Lissone to influence decisions. The missed penalty call drew scrutiny as Roma's win came amid debate over consistency in refereeing decisions this season. Mancini's involvement in the incident and subsequent non-call added a talking point beyond the final whistle, with Cesari's remarks prompting laughter and surprise in the studio.