Fofana impresses Gasperini as Nusa stalls: Roma shifts focus in attacking overhaul

Lorenzo Pisilli's strong start to the season has earned him a place in the Italy squad, with Italy coach Roberto Mancini reportedly set to call him up for the Nations League fixtures against France and Belgium, according to Il Messaggero. Pisilli has also won the trust of Roma head coach Gian Piero Gasperini, despite a poor display in Manchester. Gianluca Mancini and Daniele Ghilardi are also possible call-ups from Roma, according to the report. Bryan Cristante's involvement is in doubt. The squad list for the double header, which decides qualification for the Nations League quarter-finals, is expected to be announced today. The Manchester performance did not overshadow what the report describes as a season started at a high level by Pisilli. The Italian daily says the 2026-27 campaign has been a strong one for the midfielder, who has earned the confidence of both his club boss and the national team coach.

Roma's defeats to Real Madrid and Manchester United have exposed a squad that Gian Piero Gasperini's side do not yet appear to have equipped to sustain their high tempo for ninety minutes against Europe's top clubs. The problem, the report says, goes beyond mental resilience. Roma's intense style of aggression, individual duels and constant off-the-ball movement drains energy quickly, and when it does, the limits of the rotations show. The absences of Manu Koné and Paulo Dybala weighed heavily in Manchester, where Gasperini could not find the substitutions needed to counter the English comeback. In Serie A, eight of the ten goals Roma have conceded have come in the second half, a fragility that becomes even more glaring against high-calibre opposition. The gaps left by the summer transfer market have come back into focus. Roma are missing above all a quick attacking winger capable of beating a man and turning a move around, along with a midfielder who can offer quality and freshness in rotation. January could prove decisive. Sporting director Tony D'Amico continues to monitor several attacking profiles. Chief among them is Jamie Gittens of Chelsea, for whom, according to La Gazzetta dello Sport, a January offensive is ready. Alternatives include Jamie Leweling of Stuttgart, Giorgi Kvernadze of Frosinone and the dream target Endrick of Real Madrid. The aim would be to find an opportunity, preferably on loan, to add a player who is ready and able to have an immediate impact, in the mould of the Malen deal. A midfield addition would also allow Gasperini to manage energy levels better and give him an extra option in the most pressured moments. The report stresses that Roma have shown they can overpower Europe's elite but must still learn to sustain that level across a full match. Revolution is not required, it says, only completing a squad that is already performing well with the quality backups currently missing, because the definitive step forward also depends on a bench worthy of Roma's ambitions.

Roma are reportedly looking to strengthen Gian Piero Gasperini's squad in January, with a high attacking winger at the top of the list. Sporting director Tony D'Amico is expected to pursue at least one wide attacker, with Chelsea's Jamie Gittens a target who was already chased during the summer transfer window. Endrick and Jamie Leweling are also among the names mentioned. The piece argues that Roma's first-half form, which has often been bright, fades in the second half against Europe's elite, as Real Madrid and a wounded Manchester United have shown. The writer, citing Alessio D'Urso in La Gazzetta dello Sport, says the squad was already short of two key pieces by the close of the summer window: a left-sided winger and another midfielder. The January window is seen as a potentially decisive moment for the whole season. The idea is that a fresh, quick attacking option, paired with a fast and technical midfielder, would give Gasperini the extra energy his system needs to turn Roma's impressive first halves into solid victories.

Roma have suffered another defensive setback as Devyne Rensch has sustained a slight tear to the adductor muscle in his right thigh, Gian Piero Gasperini's side confirmed after the Dutch full-back underwent scans. The injury came during Roma's demanding Champions League trip to Manchester United, where Rensch came on at Old Trafford before being forced off in the 21st minute to make way for Lulli. The defender is expected to be sidelined for around three weeks, meaning he will miss Roma's upcoming official fixtures. He will definitely miss the home Serie A match against Sassuolo at the Stadio Olimpico and the away trip to Parma on the return from the international break. The medical staff's aim is to get him back in time for the high-profile Champions League clash away to PSG on 25 November, or for the home match against Monza. Rensch's absence reduces Gasperini's options on the flanks. In the short term, the coach will lean heavily on Wesley França and Molina, while also considering a full return to action for the club's young players to help cover the emergency at full-back.

Italian radio pundits were scathing the morning after Roma lost to Manchester United in the Champions League, with the second half at the centre of the debate. Roma led 2-1 at one stage, and Roberto Pruzzo said the collapse came after the team had been strong. Gianluca Piacentini of Rete Sport said the performance resembled Roma's displays against Real Madrid and Inter: "This is a team with dramatic highs where if the opponent is Udinese or Lecce you hit them for four and then manage, if it's Inter you hit them twice and then draw, but if you play Real or Manchester United at home in the end you lose." He added: "Until January we have to take the good and the bad of this team." The analysis from Rete Sport's Checco Oddo Casano focused on squad depth. He said: "If you'd had another Konè, which you don't have now, and a fast attacker like Gervinho, which you still don't have, you would have rebalanced the match with the substitutions." He added that conceding goals at 2-0 has "now become a trend", linking it to the squad's overall value and shortcomings more than to the coach and players' attitude. Fabio Petruzzi said the first half had been stellar, with Roma conceding nothing, but that the second half changed everything. He said Gasperini "will have to understand the reasons", and that Roma lack "the second weapon" needed to press when they are ahead. Mario Corsi of Tele Radio Stereo was blunt: "Manchester United have won only one league match, in August. After that they have never won again." He said Roma had "not shot once" and had won no corners in the second half. Corsi criticised Balerdi for losing concentration, saying he was the reason Roma conceded two goals, and said young players "can't play in certain fields yet". Francesca Ferrazza said Roma should not be in the competition at all: "You have to leave this Cup, you shouldn't even go to the playoff, it's not your thing." She argued the Champions League drained energy needed for the league, adding: "Roma are an inexperienced side who crumble at the first difficulty." Lorenzo Pes said: "The Roma tempo never slows down, and 8 times out of 10 that works, but when you reach the big matches you never achieve success." Piero Torri said the squad was short, with four players missing, and questioned the substitutions. He said he would have brought on Molina over Lulli, and felt the timing of Mora's change was wrong. Torri also raised a refereeing complaint, saying the referee had invented the penalty and then ordered it retaken: "Is the VAR in some pub in Manchester?" Nando Orsi raised the issue of physical condition, noting Roma's Sunday and Wednesday fixtures, and said Gasperini deserved some criticism. Mario Mattioli said he had expected a heavy win, but the second half "started badly". He said De Roon was left alone at one point, Pisilli was not where he should be, and Maguire led the United comeback. Mattioli said the problem was mainly mental, and that the coach had not prepared his side for United's assault.

Radio pundits in Rome have been dissecting Roma's defeat to Manchester United, with the recurring criticism centred on the team's collapse after half-time. Several commentators argued that Roma led 2-0 and then let the lead slip, and that the problem is structural rather than a matter of one refereeing decision. Radio Radio's Ferrajolo said the key issue was not the penalty episodes but the pattern: "Roma were a great team in the first half and an unwatchable one in the second. Every time they go ahead they get pegged back. It is normal that you are winning 2-0 and you bring on a midfielder. The side was beautiful in the first half and unwatchable in the second. Since it is not the first time this has happened, we need to understand the problem." He also questioned the referee's handling of the penalty, saying the official was "too precise" when he ordered the spot-kick retaken, and criticised Maguire, whom he described as behaving like a wrestler. Verdenelli of Radio Bruno said the team struggles in big matches but that analysing the game fully was impossible because the referee had "literally distorted" the match with the penalty and a red card that was not shown. Luca Ferri of Radio Bruno said he was not angry about the result and was more concerned with the reasons behind the "blackouts" in the opening 20 minutes of every second half, adding: "There is a lot of work to do, but I am confident about the rest of the league campaign." Torri, speaking to Radio Manà Manà Sport, said the referee had weighed heavily on the result, but argued that Roma had perhaps chosen a low profile given their situation with UEFA. "Can you imagine Mourinho last night? He would have exploded. Roma have a short squad and often the substitutions do not maintain the level of quality. When you play games of this level, which wear you down mentally more than physically, you need the right changes. The absence of Koné and Svilar is devastating." Matera said Roma lost their shape after going 2-0 up by bringing on an extra midfielder, adding: "Roma are not capable of managing it, and Pisilli was running around aimlessly. I don't think it was a physical problem, Roma collapsed mentally." He also said Balerdi had played a great game before making an error that showed something was wrong. Carina of Radio Radio Mattino said: "This Roma in the Champions League is not enough. In Serie A they are overwhelming and can even do without three key players like Svilar, Koné and Dybala. In Europe, unfortunately, it lasts an hour. In these games you cannot concede anything, even against a Manchester side in great difficulty. Roma's flaw was closing the first half with only a two-goal lead." Pruzzo said: "I don't know how United managed to get back into the game. The penalty decision conditioned the course of the match. At 2-1 the difference between a great team and one that still has to grow to compete at the highest level emerged. In Italy you cannot beat teams of your own level, while in Europe you lose to superior ones. The substitutions brought nothing. Indeed, they made the situation worse." Orsi said: "Perhaps it is a question of physical stamina. In Italy the dips are not seen, abroad they hurt you. Gasperini should face some criticism: against Real Madrid three goals from corners, not to mention yesterday and Inter. He is not untouchable, he too makes mistakes." The commentators disagreed on the penalty and the referee, with Agresti saying the spot-kick could have been withheld while agreeing with the retake, and Camelio arguing that Manchester United had been dead before the second goal. Camelio said Lulli was not ready and that Molina, who has more experience, should have been used, while disagreeing that fatigue was the cause because Roma had run. Agresti warned that letting Manchester United back into the game changed everything, saying the match turned around once they returned.

Roma head to Old Trafford to face Manchester United in the Champions League, with Gian Piero Gasperini's preparations disrupted by a back problem that has ruled Lorenzo Pellegrini's fellow goalkeeper Pierluigi Gollini out, leaving Devis Vásquez to start in goal. The match kicks off at 21:00 Italian time. Roma come into the fixture after an away win over Udinese. Gasperini has confirmed Rodrigo Mora in attack, alongside Matías Soulé and Donyell Malen. Gianluca Mancini returns to the defence, with Leonardo Balerdi completing the back line in place of Evan N'Dicka. Devyne Rensch and Wesley are named on the flanks. Roma line up in a 3-4-2-1 formation: Vásquez; Mancini, Balerdi, Hermoso; Rensch, Cristante, de Roon, Wesley; Soulé, Mora; Malen. Manchester United, coached by Carrick, line up in a 4-2-3-1 with Lammens in goal, Yoro, Maguire, Heaven and Dalot in defence, Mainoo and Baleba in midfield, and Cunha, Fernandes and Diallo supporting Mbeumo. Tielemans replaces Baleba at the 50th minute. Roma's Rensch was replaced by Lulli in the 22nd minute, and Mora was substituted by Pisilli in the 46th minute of the second half. The referee is Gil Manzano (Spain), assisted by Porras Ayuso-Barbero and Barbero, with Martínez Munuera as fourth official, Del Cerro Grande on VAR and Cuadra Fernandez as AVAR. Goals came from Soulé in the 9th minute, Malen in the 18th minute and Fernandes in the 53rd minute. Yellow cards were shown to Soulé and Bruno Fernandes in the 21st minute, Lulli in the 35th minute, Malen in the 41st minute and Heaven in the 70th minute.

Roma travel to Old Trafford on Tuesday for a high-stakes UEFA Champions League clash that could decide Michael Carrick's future at Manchester United, with the home side enduring their worst run of form since the late 1980s. United lost 2-0 at home to Chelsea on Saturday and are level on points with 18th-placed Crystal Palace in the Premier League. They are on a nine-game winless streak in all competitions (D3, L6), their worst run since 1988. Carrick's position is under scrutiny ahead of what is described as a must-win game. United beat Champions League debutants Sabah Baku 4-0, but have since lost back-to-back group-phase matches, suffering multi-goal defeats at Atletico Madrid and Como. Roma arrive in better shape. Gian Piero Gasperini's side recovered from a two-game winless start (D1, L1) to thrash Slovan Bratislava 4-0 on matchday three. That win is part of a five-game unbeaten run in all competitions (W4, D1), capped by a dominant 5-2 win at Udinese last weekend. Roma are unbeaten in 17 Serie A matches (W13, D4), and the Giallorossi will take the Old Trafford pitch in high spirits, seeking their maiden win on United's home ground. United have beaten Roma in all four previous meetings at the Theatre of Dreams, including a 7-1 rout in 2007, when Carrick scored a brace. The under-pressure United boss will be desperate to repeat that success, knowing anything other than a win would likely seal his fate at the club. United have won 13 of their 17 Champions League home matches against Italian opposition at Old Trafford (D1, L3) and bring a seven-game winning streak in European home games into the fixture, with each of their last four wins in that sequence seeing them score at least four goals. However, the 20-time English champions are enduring their worst-ever ten-game Champions League run (W2, D1, L7), and they have failed to score in five of their seven defeats this season. Roma's scoring has been prolific, with Gasperini's side netting two or more goals in six consecutive outings across all competitions. That run started with a 4-3 home loss to Real Madrid in the Champions League, and Roma have since won five straight games without defeat (W4, D1). Their domestic form has not translated to Europe, however. They have secured just two wins from their last 20 Champions League road fixtures (D6, L12) and have gone 32 successive Champions League road trips without a clean sheet. They are also seeking their first-ever away win over English opposition in the Champions League proper (D3, L7). That said, Roma have not lost any of their last six European away games (W3, D3). Patrick Dorgu, Luke Shaw and Benjamin Sesko are definite absentees for United, while Marcus Rashford and Amad Diallo could be on the bench. Bryan Mbeumo is expected to lead the line amid Matheus Cunha's rough patch, with Bruno Fernandes, Mason Mount and Youri Tielemans behind him in Carrick's 4-2-3-1 set-up. Roma remain without Paulo Dybala, Manu Kone and first-choice goalkeeper Mile Svilar. Lorenzo Pellegrini, who is struggling with a thigh injury, is also out, meaning Matias Soule is likely to start behind Donyell Malen. Roma's probable lineup is Gollini; N'Dicka, Mancini, Hermoso; Molina, De Roon, Pisilli, Wesley; Cristante, Soule; Malen. The prediction is a Roma win.

Roma's radio commentators have looked ahead to Thursday night's Champions League trip to Manchester United at Old Trafford, with several pundits stressing that a win would carry weight well beyond the three points. David Rossi of Rete Sport said: "Gasperini has understood that Manchester won't be a walk in the park, and that he would really like to win. Beyond the three points at stake tonight, because winning would take you a good way forward in the qualification, playing and doing well in Manchester would bring a series of positive consequences across the board. Winning 1-0 at Old Trafford tonight would be worth more than 5-2 at Udine; a win tonight would carry over to the Olimpico against Sassuolo…" Gianluca Piacentini of Rete Sport declined to make a prediction, saying Gasperini had got it right in insisting Roma should not be influenced by Manchester's recent form. He added that United manager Carrick could be sacked if he fails to get a result against Roma, noting that the club has saved many coaches in its history. Piacentini joked that a hat-trick of dismissed coaches would not be a bad outcome, with Runjaic dismissed first, Carrick tonight and Aquilani on Saturday, "with all due respect to Alberto." Giorgio Marota of Rete Sport expects Gasperini to rely on his senior players in such big games, meaning Mancini, N'Dicka and Hermoso are likely to start. He said Ghilardi is growing rapidly and looks like the player who has developed most. Marota described the squad as having two strong groups, the Italians and the Argentines, and said dressing-room dynamics exist but Gasperini will not be swayed by them, as shown by his removing Pellegrini's captaincy as soon as he arrived. He said Mancini is even more Gasperini-like in his role than Ghilardi, though Ghilardi could challenge him in the long run. Mario Corsi of Tele Radio Stereo said tonight's match has great appeal and that, against the Roma side Carrick faced before, Roma would have returned the 7-1 scoreline. He argued Roma would have done well to sign 21- and 22-year-olds ready to break through, citing Moreira, Mastantuono, Alajbegovic and Mora, who has already scored three goals. He said these players cost money but have a future, and expressed hope of signing Endrick, adding that Mora would not be bothered by his arrival. Corsi also warned about AC Milan, saying they want to invest heavily, and that with Moreira and Endrick they could start to take shape, though he noted they have a major brake in Amorim. Francesca Ferrazza of Tele Radio Stereo said that in January a club cannot take a gamble and should instead sign established players who may not be performing at their clubs, a loan move that could help Roma take a step up and push for the title. She said that in the summer a different kind of investment is needed, and recalled that last January the 19-year-old was not signed, which is why people say Roma need another Malen, a fully formed player who provides the final step. Lorenzo Pes of Tele Radio Stereo said Roma must focus on the present rather than the ghosts of the past. On Rensch, he said he had been picked from the first minute, but the battle for that place is open, adding that he was not convinced by him in Naples. He said a win on such an important pitch would, for now, place Roma among Europe's elite and represent a real step up in quality. On United, he said the quality is there with Bruno Fernandes, Mbuemo, Cunha and Mainoo, but that the side does not deserve its league position and looks very disjointed. Piero Torri of Manà Manà Sport said that if Roma beat Sassuolo, Parma and Monza in their next three league games, they would be close to first place. He said Bologna, Lazio and Juventus also follow, and that Lazio must be considered. He suggested Balerdi should start tonight and that Molina should be backed for his experience of big stages. He would also play Mora with Soulé and Malen. Roberto Pruzzo of Radio Radio said United in these conditions are like Juventus, but Roma must not fall into the trap. He warned that Roma cannot go there and do what they did at Udine, and that a different mental and physical resilience will be needed. On Soulé, Pruzzo said he thinks all the good possible of him and that the club waited for him too long given his qualities, though he has not yet taken the team by the hand and still lacks something to be a recognised leader. He said he backed him because he deserves it. Nando Orsi of Radio Radio said Manchester United having Dorgu, the former Lecce player, means they are no longer the Manchester United of old if they invest in him. He called tonight's match complicated and difficult, noting Roma always play at Old Trafford, and that by the law of big numbers one match must go their way. He hoped it would not be so for Roma, adding that if Roma score first, United may collapse because they are mentally weak, while if they score first, they may become elated. For that reason, Roma must be careful.