Paolo Condò analysed Roma's Champions League defeat to Real Madrid in an exclusive interview, emphasising the growth the club demonstrated despite the loss. Roma were the strongest of the four Italian sides to lose in the competition this week, and held Real Madrid at bay for 80 minutes before conceding twice more to lose what Condò described as a painful collapse.
Condò highlighted the defensive vulnerability that emerged when Mancini and Hermoso were substituted. "When they came off, the defence fell apart," he said. "We were missing the player who, at 3–3, would say 'we're not playing this game any more and we finish it like this'. Ultimately the pitch seemed to slope in Real Madrid's favour—they always have at least four world-class players fresh on the pitch at the end." He argued that Endrick, the Spanish club's young forward, decided the match and that Mancini's absence was critical: "I believe if Mancini had been on the pitch Roma would not have conceded three goals from corners." Condò noted that Roma's character was evident in midfielders Bryan Cristante and Manu Koné, defender Gianluca Mancini, and goalkeeper Mile Svilar, though he felt their personalities were not fully deployed in the closing stages.
On Roma's standing in Serie A, Condò was clear: "Roma remains the most credible anti-Inter candidate, and there are two proofs: they are the only side to have taken points from Inter, and they drew against Como with ten men." He assessed that Roma went closer to victory when at full strength, while in numerical disadvantage they conceded little. Condò also observed that Como, under Fabregas, has fallen behind Gasperini's Roma since that match.
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Roma held Real Madrid at 3–1 before conceding three goals in the final thirty minutes to lose 4–3 in the Champions League, a collapse that has prompted reflection across Italian media on both the team's progress and its defensive brittleness at the highest level. The defeat came after Roma controlled the opening phases and forced goalkeeper Courtois into a passive role with incisive passing, yet Real Madrid's revival—catalysed by young forward Endrick—exposed structural vulnerabilities that demand urgent correction. Paolo Condò emphasised that Roma were the strongest of the four Italian sides to lose in European competition this week and stressed that when defenders Mancini and Hermoso were substituted, the defence disintegrated. He argued that Mancini's presence on the pitch would likely have prevented at least one goal from the three conceded from set-pieces, and noted that Real Madrid's depth—always fielding four world-class players—proved decisive in the closing stages.
Despite the loss, analysts identified genuine cause for optimism about Roma's trajectory. Condò asserted Roma remain Inter's strongest challengers in Serie A, citing two proofs: they are the only side to take points from Inter and drew against Como with ten men. Daniele De Rossi, now managing Genoa ahead of Saturday's visit to the Stadio Olimpico, described Roma as a "truly frightening squad" whose value has grown significantly since December. He contextualised the set-piece vulnerability by noting that goals from such situations account for roughly 30 per cent across football, though acknowledged Roma must tighten their defensive organisation. The coverage frames the collapse as a learning opportunity rather than a terminal setback, with the implicit expectation that Roma will translate the evening's lessons into concrete improvement.
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Testo Originale / Source Text
“Paolo Condò ha rilasciato un’intervista in esclusiva ai microfoni di Retesport.
Dopo il gol del 3-2 il finale sembrava ineluttabile quello che poi effettivamente è accaduto. La Roma delle 4 squadre italiane che hanno perso in Champions League è quella che ha fatto meglio, il tracollo è stato più…”
Read the full article in Italian at Retesport.
