Desideri on Cristante's growing leadership and De Roon's impact at Roma

Rodrigo Mora continues to split opinion among Roma critics and fans, with some seeing a talent of unquestionable potential and others an overpriced signing. The Portuguese winger's total investment, including fixed fee and bonuses, could reach €52 million, making the 2007-born player the most expensive transfer in the club's history. On the pitch, Mora came on in the second half of the recent match against Cagliari and initially struggled to find his position on the right flank. The turning point came from a tactical switch by Gian Piero Gasperini, who swapped Mora and Matías Soulé and moved the Portuguese to the left. From that moment, Mora changed the momentum of the match, heading home the new Roma lead and setting up the final goal of the 4-2 win. According to Tuttosport, Mora's place in the squad is also shaped by this summer's market dynamics. Sporting director Tony D'Amico explained that the club were looking for a winger with different characteristics and greater physical presence, while Mora is a player of great technical quality who still needs to be moulded tactically and in terms of consistency. At 19, and in his first experience of Italian football, the former Porto player needs time and daily work. Gasperini has the material needed to correct his lapses during the ninety minutes, avoiding hasty judgements: a single mistake does not define a player's value, just as one decisive performance does not complete his development.

Every Roma player has started at least one match from the first minute this season, with Gian Piero Gasperini refusing to separate starters from reserves. The rotation has been key to managing a nine-match cycle in 27 days, which ends with Udinese, Manchester United and Sassuolo, and has been needed in part because of injuries. Gasperini has widened his rotations, giving some regulars rest. Mario Hermoso sat on the bench against Cagliari. In the first twelve matches across Serie A and the Champions League, Hermoso has been the most-used player with 812 minutes, ahead of Wesley, who is with the Brazil squad, on 806 and Gianluca Mancini on 798. Mancini, a former Atalanta defender, has shown some signs of fatigue in his recent outings. In defence, Gasperini can count on the freshness of Daniele Ghilardi (248 minutes) and Konstantinos Koulierakis (206), as well as Leonardo Balerdi (464). Evan N'Dicka has not appeared to feel the strain, logging 727 minutes. On the flanks, Nahuel Molina (571), Emanuele Lulli (477) and Devyne Rensch (305) are the players rotated most often. Matías Soulé is the most-used forward. The figures show how Gasperini is spreading the workload across the squad as the fixture congestion builds. Roma's run of nine matches in 27 days puts a premium on depth, and the minutes for the back line and wide players show the boss relying on a wide group rather than a fixed XI.

Gian Piero Gasperini is the oldest coach in Serie A, but his attacking football looks anything but old-fashioned, according to an analysis by Alessandro Angeloni in Il Messaggero. Born in Grugliasco on 26 January 1968, Gasperini is older than Maurizio Sarri and Luciano Spalletti, both born in 1959. Yet his teams play with the thinking of a young coach, in the mould of Roberto De Zerbi, Cesc Fàbregas or Ivan Juric's contemporaries Farioli, the article notes. The piece argues that Gasperini stands out among his peers, including Massimiliano Allegri, who belongs to the older generation. Gasperini looks backwards to move forwards: he studied Ajax under Louis van Gaal in the 1990s and the three-man defence that could build play, press and score goals. The article points out that football is increasingly a game for young coaches, citing Cristian Chivu, Ruben Amorim, Fàbregas, Rino Gattuso, and further down the ladder Pisacane at Cagliari, Abbate at Torino, Aquilani at Sassuolo and Daniele De Rossi at Genoa. For Roma supporters, the piece is a reminder of the attacking identity Gasperini brings to the Giallorossi bench as head coach. The analysis frames his longevity in the game as a source of his tactical edge rather than a weakness, with his ideas still setting the standard across Serie A.

Hermoso has played the most minutes of any Roma player this season, with 812 minutes on the pitch across the first twelve matches in Serie A and the Champions League. Wesley follows closely on 806 minutes, having just been called up by the Brazilian national team, and Gianluca Mancini has logged 798 minutes. Il Tempo reports that the figures show Gian Piero Gasperini is rotating his squad rather than relying on fixed starters. The rotation has become necessary because of a demanding run of nine matches in 27 days, which ends with games against Udinese, Manchester United and Sassuolo. Mancini has shown some signs of fatigue in recent outings, which has given Gasperini the chance to turn to fresher options such as Ghilardi, Koulierakis and Balerdi. On the flanks, Molina, Lulli and Rensch take turns, while Ndicka remains a reliable presence in defence with 727 minutes played. In midfield, Cristante and Koné have been used consistently, alongside Pisilli and De Roon. In attack, Soulé (770 minutes) and Malen (752 minutes) have been the most used forwards. Dybala, who is currently sidelined, is next on the list, followed by younger players Mora and Castro, who continue to earn valuable spells within the season's rotations.

Roma have returned to training ahead of a crowded run of fixtures, with Koné now fully recovered from his injury and aiming to return against Sassuolo. The squad travels to Friuli today for Sunday's Serie A match against Udinese, before moving on to Manchester on Monday on the eve of the Champions League clash with United, and the club are facing both games with a depleted list of players. Mile Svilar's medical tests confirmed that his return has been pushed back until after the international break. Paulo Dybala gave no cause for optimism after yesterday's session, as the Argentine forward trained on a personalised programme because he is still feeling discomfort in his calf. His availability for the trip to England is therefore very uncertain. Koné, by contrast, is over his injury and has started working apart from the group on the pitch. The French midfielder, like Dybala, is determined to be back in action for the league meeting with Sassuolo. For the trip to Udine, head coach Gian Piero Gasperini, who has chosen not to hold his usual pre-match press conference, is weighing up solutions and changes in defence, where Hermoso and Balerdi have shaken off their respective knocks. In midfield, De Roon is the favourite to play alongside the pairing of Cristante and Pisilli, while up front Malen is set to return from the start alongside Soulé.

Gian Piero Gasperini is preparing significant changes for tomorrow's trip to Udinese, with Donyell Malen returning to the starting XI. Malen's last visit to Udine was his worst performance in a Roma shirt, though he did find the net that day, sadly the wrong one: his deflection was the decisive touch on Ekkelenkamp's free kick. Behind him, Rodrigo Mora and Matías Soulé are set to play. Marten de Roon, who needs a rest after six matches in twenty days, drops out, along with the other three midfielders who were in the previous selection. Bryan Cristante and Niccolò Pisilli will form the central midfield pairing. Roma face two games in four days, with the squad still stretched by injuries and absences. Wesley will start on the left in both fixtures. On the right, Nahuel Molina, Emanuele Lulli and Devyne Rensch are in contention, with Rensch surprisingly named in the starting line-up in Istanbul and Naples. Rotation is also on the cards at the back, the department with the most players available. Leonardo Balerdi has put behind him a tough setback and will start. Mario Hermoso has recovered after not being at his best and is also available. Gianluca Mancini is likely to miss out, having run low on energy and been among the weakest performers of the season so far, with some physical complaints picked up on international duty that have never fully cleared. Daniele Aloisi, writing in Il Messaggero, reports that Daniele Ghilardi is looking for minutes and consistency and could take Mancini's place. Evan N'Dicka is the defender in the best form, and Gasperini does not want to do without him. If N'Dicka plays, Balerdi will operate on the left of the centre-back pairing. If N'Dicka rests, Balerdi will move into the middle with Hermoso alongside him. Gasperini will settle those doubts in the coming hours. Roma's focus then turns to Old Trafford, where the hope is that, for once, the 'theatre of dreams' does not turn back into a nightmare.

Roma are expected to rotate their defence and flanks for their upcoming match against Udinese, according to Simone Valdarchi of Radio Manà Manà (90.9). Valdarchi said: "In the defensive department and on the flanks I expect rotations. Compared with the last outing, we could see Koulierakis and Mancini leave the field, while at least two of Ghilardi, Balerdi and Hermoso could play. If he had the chance, I believe Gasp would give Ndicka a rest too, but maybe it's not the moment." Lorenzo Pes of Teleradiostereo (92.7) reports that Balerdi and Hermoso have recovered from their issues, and he expects de Roon to start again. Svilar will return against Parma, as the medical staff decided not to take a risk, and the goalkeeper could go back to work in Belgium. Koné resumed training on the pitch yesterday, with his aim being to return for Sassuolo and then join up with the national team. Pes also said Dybala wants to be available against Manchester United, but it will depend on him. Dybala also did individualised work yesterday, and Pes said: "For now it is difficult to see him in the Champions League." Roberto Pruzzo of Radio Radio Mattino (104.5) said: "Roma must immediately steer tomorrow's match. Udinese have recovered Davis and Zaniolo and could create some problems. In the last game Gollini made some saves, and the giallorossi must be careful. In midfield Roma have few alternatives. The moment of the season is delicate." Nando Orsi, also of Radio Radio Mattino, said: "There is too much of a gap between Roma and Udinese. Matches are all difficult, but on the pitch you see the differences in value. I don't see any other result than a Roma win. Como also risked it against Torino, but in the end they won with their individual players."

Roma head into a double away trip with several absentees, though there are signs of improvement across the squad. Svilar's tests have confirmed he will return after the international break, while Dybala still feels discomfort in his calf and continues with individualised work. Manu Koné, recovered from injury, has returned to partial training on the pitch, and both he and Dybala could return against Sassuolo. Hermoso and Balerdi have overcome their respective knocks, while Mora is favoured over De Roon. The Giallorossi will be followed by a large travelling support on their upcoming away fixtures. Between Udine and Manchester, close to 10,000 Roma fans are expected to be present, around 5,000 for the trip to Udine tomorrow and 3,000 for Tuesday's match at Old Trafford. Many supporters in England are also set to travel without tickets just to experience the Champions League atmosphere. Before the international break, another sell-out is expected at the Olimpico for the match against Sassuolo. Gian Piero Gasperini is the oldest coach in Serie A, yet his style of football remains among the most modern and attacking in the league. As Il Messaggero reports, the Roma coach continues to work with the same innovative drive as his younger colleagues, building an identity partly rooted in the study of Van Gaal's Ajax: a back three, high pressing and a constant search for goals.

Hermoso has played the most minutes of any Roma player this season, with 812 minutes on the pitch across the first twelve matches in Serie A and the Champions League. Wesley follows closely on 806 minutes, having just been called up by the Brazilian national team, and Gianluca Mancini has logged 798 minutes. Il Tempo reports that the figures show Gian Piero Gasperini is rotating his squad rather than relying on fixed starters. The rotation has become necessary because of a demanding run of nine matches in 27 days, which ends with games against Udinese, Manchester United and Sassuolo. Mancini has shown some signs of fatigue in recent outings, which has given Gasperini the chance to turn to fresher options such as Ghilardi, Koulierakis and Balerdi. On the flanks, Molina, Lulli and Rensch take turns, while Ndicka remains a reliable presence in defence with 727 minutes played. In midfield, Cristante and Koné have been used consistently, alongside Pisilli and De Roon. In attack, Soulé (770 minutes) and Malen (752 minutes) have been the most used forwards. Dybala, who is currently sidelined, is next on the list, followed by younger players Mora and Castro, who continue to earn valuable spells within the season's rotations.