·8 September 2026·6h ago

Di Canio: Roma can enjoy themselves in the Champions League

Paolo Di Canio, the former Lazio player, has offered his assessment of Italian clubs' prospects in this season's Champions League, singling out Roma for encouragement. Speaking to La Stampa, Di Canio ranked the Serie A representatives by their potential to advance, positioning Roma as capable of enjoying the competition despite the elite opposition they will face.

Di Canio identified Inter as the strongest Italian candidate to progress, while suggesting that the other Serie A clubs, if drawn favourably, can target the quarter-finals. Roma, he said, "can have fun" — a characterisation that reflects confidence in their ability to compete without necessarily making them title contenders. He also highlighted Como as a potential surprise package, and noted that Napoli's midfield options have lost some freshness.

On broader European matters, Di Canio expressed support for the raised threshold for VAR intervention, advocated by Orsato, calling for a standard that gives referees genuine peace of mind. He was critical of the decision to rescind Balogun's suspension, calling it "very serious," and lamented what he sees as ex-players commenting on football reforms "as if they were scientists" in order to protect their earnings. On Milan and Juventus in the Europa League, he argued that the two managers—Amorim and Spalletti—must balance their squad rotation, noting that Amorim will not calculate his team selection while Spalletti, being more experienced, may do so. He also offered mixed views on Milan's squad, praising Douglas Luiz as a regista but expressing reservations about Wöltemeade and noting that while Alajbegovic can dribble, he lacks a strong shot.

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Roma return to the Champions League on Thursday after a seven-year absence, travelling to Istanbul to face Fenerbahçe at the Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium. The squad departs on 9 September, with head coach Gian Piero Gasperini scheduled to hold a pre-match press conference at 17:00 Italian time, followed by a final training session at 17:30. The fixture comes after three consecutive Serie A victories and marks the club's first appearance in Europe's elite competition since 2019.

Gasperini is leaning on experience to guide Roma's return, with Paulo Dybala central to the campaign after last appearing in the Champions League in March 2022 during his time at Juventus. The Argentine has accumulated 53 Champions League appearances and 18 goals across his career. Roma's squad blends proven European operators—De Roon, Molina, Balerdi, Hermoso, Malen and Dybala—alongside Champions League debutants including Mancini, Koné, Wesley, Pisilli, Mora, Ghilarkdi and Lulli. Matías Soulé, who has rediscovered form with two consecutive goals in Serie A, is among the most anticipated performers ahead of facing Mason Greenwood, one of Roma's summer transfer targets.

Former Lazio striker Paolo Di Canio offered cautious optimism about Roma's prospects, telling La Stampa that they "can enjoy themselves" in the competition. Di Canio ranked Inter as the strongest Italian candidate to progress, while suggesting Roma and other Serie A clubs can target the quarter-finals if drawn favourably. He identified PSG as the tournament favourites, with Bayern Munich, Barcelona and Arsenal as principal challengers.

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Testo Originale / Source Text

“Paolo Di Canio, ex giocatore della Lazio, ha rilasciato alcune dichiarazioni a La Stampa. L’ex biancoceleste ha espresso le sue considerazioni sulla Champions, parlando proprio della Roma. Di seguito uno stralcio delle sue parole Che possibilità hanno le italiane in Champions?«L’Inter può andare…”

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