Gallery – Atmosphere builds at Rodney Parade ahead of Newport County v Roma

Roma face Manchester United at Old Trafford tomorrow evening at 21:00 in the fourth matchday of the Champions League League Phase. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini spoke at his press conference ahead of the match, warning his side not to be distracted by United's difficulties. He said: "We must not be distracted by their difficulties. I am dreaming short-term, at this moment the dream is to put in a great performance here, and I hope it is achievable." Alongside the Roma boss, midfielder Marten de Roon addressed the media. He said: "We want to give continuity, I am happy to be able to lend a hand." Asked about the supporters, he added: "I was happy about the applause against Cagliari." His remark that "the boss is unique" drew an amused reaction from Gasperini. In training, Balerdi and Cristante wore conspicuous knee strapping. If the Argentine starts on the bench, Cristante will start in the wide midfield position. Mancini and Lulli return to the starting line-up. Roma's attention now turns to Old Trafford, where a performance of quality is the stated aim for the coach and his players.

Gian Piero Gasperini has warned Roma not to underestimate Manchester United despite the Premier League club's difficulties, ahead of their Champions League clash at Old Trafford on Tuesday 3 November. Speaking at his press conference, the head coach said: "It is a strong team, there are players of absolute value, it is a hot and difficult environment. We are preparing as if we were facing the best Manchester." Roma face continued absences. Paulo Dybala, Lorenzo Pellegrini and Manu Koné are all unavailable, forcing the squad to adapt. Gasperini said: "In midfield we are counted. I hope it is a moment of transition." He assured that the players available are ready, while the return of the injured players could come after the international break. Gasperini also praised the wide options, saying Wesley and Lulli are doing well on the flanks, while Molina and Rensch have responded positively when called upon. Marten de Roon also spoke at the press conference on the eve of Manchester United-Roma. He said: "Gasp? I respect him enormously, his way of training us tactically is above everyone else's." According to the midfielder, the squad is developing personality, although against Real Madrid a little maturity was missing. He said: "We must defend better at certain moments. But we are growing." De Roon also commented on the applause the fans gave the team against Cagliari, stressing that performances matter most: "Results always show what you are worth, I am on the right track to earn their forgiveness." He added maximum respect for Manchester United and the atmosphere at Old Trafford, but also the desire to return home with an important result: "They are a strong team, but we want to achieve a great result." Roma will wear their third kit of the season for the Champions League trip to Old Trafford on Tuesday 3 November. The outfield players will wear grey shirts, while the goalkeeper will wear yellow. The warm-up tops will be aqua green. This differs from the last league match against Udinese, when Roma played in their traditional red shirt. Former manager Roberto Pruzzo, speaking to Radio Radio, said: "Manchester United look like a second-tier team. Against Como they performed terribly, it is a team that has switched off. It is an opportunity to seize, without thinking we are much stronger than our opponents. The team is in full health and I think there are prospects to continue doing well." Carina, also on Radio Radio, said: "It is the best moment to face Manchester. Roma have always lost: 4 times out of 4, including the emphatic 7-1. Those were always defeats that hurt, now you have the chance to do well. Roma are a pleasure to watch, they always want to score more goals and can trouble any team in the world as long as their legs hold up."

Roma's probable starting line-up for their trip to Manchester United has been revealed, with Lulli starting from the first minute and Cristante named in attack. Mancini returns to the starting back three, while de Roon and Pisilli keep their places in midfield. Soulé and Malen complete the front three. The match is a Champions League fixture for Roma, who are in the competition this season after finishing third in Serie A in 2025-26. The line-up news follows the team's official preview, with the squad building around its attacking options in a demanding European away trip. The probable line-up was published on 2 November 2026 at 19:57 by Forzaroma.info.

Gian Piero Gasperini has warned his Roma side not to underestimate Manchester United ahead of the Champions League tie, despite the English club's poor run of results. On injuries, Paulo Dybala, Manu Koné and Mile Svilar are unlikely to return before the international break, although there remains a chance for the Sassuolo fixture. Rodrigo Mora is available, but team selection will be decided at the last moment. Donyell Malen is enjoying a remarkable spell: he has scored 22 goals in 27 Serie A matches in the calendar year, more than Harry Kane, Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland in their respective leagues. No player has scored more than him across Europe's top five leagues in that period, a transformation the article credits to his work under Gasperini. At Manchester United, Michael Carrick has gone nine matches without a win, and his position is increasingly under pressure. United were beaten 4-1 by Como, coached by Fabregas, a result that exposed gaps between midfield and defence. Nico Paz took advantage with two goals and an assist, and Roma's Matías Soulé, Rodrigo Mora and Donyell Malen are considered capable of exploiting the same weakness. Carrick has rejected the idea that he will be dismissed after the Roma game, saying: “Non penso che sarà così” (“I don't think that will be the case”). Dorgu and Luke Shaw are confirmed absent, while Marcus Rashford is doubtful. Carrick also recalled United's 7-1 win of 2007, calling it “una delle notti più belle della mia carriera” (“one of the best nights of my career”). Marten de Roon acknowledged the mistakes Roma made against Real Madrid, saying the side was immature in that match but is still developing. He said: “Vogliamo dare continuità alle prestazioni” (“We want to give continuity to our performances”). He also thanked supporters, adding: “Mi ha fatto piacere essere applaudito contro il Cagliari” (“It was nice to be applauded against Cagliari”). Elsewhere, Turkish press report that Greenwood had a tense exchange with Fenerbahçe president Yıldırım, asking his father and agent to find him another club. The bust-up followed his controversial omission against Göztepe. There has been no official rupture, and the club has attributed the absence to a flu-like illness. On the transfer front, Roma are reportedly monitoring Gabriel Sara, the Brazilian born in 1999 who plays for Galatasaray, with a view to a January move. Napoli, Newcastle and Everton are also said to be interested, with the English clubs reportedly ready to spend around €30 million, though only interest has been confirmed so far. Meanwhile, former Roma coach Fonseca is close to leaving Lyon to return to Portugal with Sporting. He broke down in tears after Lyon's win over Angers, embraced by his players. An agreement with Sporting is reportedly close but not yet official. If it goes through, Fonseca will face Roma as an opponent on 8 December in the Champions League.

Gian Piero Gasperini has warned Roma not to underestimate Manchester United despite the Premier League club's difficulties, ahead of their Champions League clash at Old Trafford on Tuesday 3 November. Speaking at his press conference, the head coach said: "It is a strong team, there are players of absolute value, it is a hot and difficult environment. We are preparing as if we were facing the best Manchester." Roma face continued absences. Paulo Dybala, Lorenzo Pellegrini and Manu Koné are all unavailable, forcing the squad to adapt. Gasperini said: "In midfield we are counted. I hope it is a moment of transition." He assured that the players available are ready, while the return of the injured players could come after the international break. Gasperini also praised the wide options, saying Wesley and Lulli are doing well on the flanks, while Molina and Rensch have responded positively when called upon. Marten de Roon also spoke at the press conference on the eve of Manchester United-Roma. He said: "Gasp? I respect him enormously, his way of training us tactically is above everyone else's." According to the midfielder, the squad is developing personality, although against Real Madrid a little maturity was missing. He said: "We must defend better at certain moments. But we are growing." De Roon also commented on the applause the fans gave the team against Cagliari, stressing that performances matter most: "Results always show what you are worth, I am on the right track to earn their forgiveness." He added maximum respect for Manchester United and the atmosphere at Old Trafford, but also the desire to return home with an important result: "They are a strong team, but we want to achieve a great result." Roma will wear their third kit of the season for the Champions League trip to Old Trafford on Tuesday 3 November. The outfield players will wear grey shirts, while the goalkeeper will wear yellow. The warm-up tops will be aqua green. This differs from the last league match against Udinese, when Roma played in their traditional red shirt. Former manager Roberto Pruzzo, speaking to Radio Radio, said: "Manchester United look like a second-tier team. Against Como they performed terribly, it is a team that has switched off. It is an opportunity to seize, without thinking we are much stronger than our opponents. The team is in full health and I think there are prospects to continue doing well." Carina, also on Radio Radio, said: "It is the best moment to face Manchester. Roma have always lost: 4 times out of 4, including the emphatic 7-1. Those were always defeats that hurt, now you have the chance to do well. Roma are a pleasure to watch, they always want to score more goals and can trouble any team in the world as long as their legs hold up."

Gian Piero Gasperini has warned Roma not to be distracted ahead of their trip to face Manchester United, describing the Premier League side as strong despite a difficult run of results. Speaking at his pre-match press conference on the eve of the fixture, the Roma coach said: "Manchester in the league is going through a moment of difficulty in results, but we cannot be distracted. In any case, it is a strong team, there are players of absolute value, it is a warm and difficult environment. We are preparing as if we were facing the best Manchester." Asked what his side still lacks, Gasperini said: "Perfection does not exist for the very big teams, and not for us either. Our quality is that we always try to improve. We know our characteristics, but we know that in some situations we can do better." On the subject of dreams, he added: "Everyone has the right to dream. I try to make dreams achievable in the short term, starting from tomorrow, in a fantastic stadium famous all over the world. I hope it is achievable." Gasperini outlined the immediate problems. "If you are missing Pellegrini, Dybala and Koné in the same areas, we try to adapt a little at certain moments. We have the alternative of Castro with Malen, and in midfield we are counted. I hope it is a passing moment. We have played these seven matches on a knife's edge, but we have always had prepared players who have recovered quickly." On Mora, he said: "He is well. The 17 who are here are all ready. After the break we hope to get everyone back. It is difficult this week." On defensive options, Gasperini praised Wesley alongside Lulli, saying: "In that area Wesley is also doing very well alongside Lulli. Molina needed to play, and Rensch has also done very well. For them it is demanding, they cover a lot of ground with acceleration and speed." Asked about Manchester United's struggles under Carrick and how a big club can turn things around, Gasperini said: "Every situation is different. I do not know the Manchester situation precisely, but they have strong players. You can suffer for a certain period, but then you can restart, hopefully from the day after tomorrow. At Inter I was really there too briefly, three matches, so I would not make that comparison." On whether Italian football has closed the gap with England on a technical and tactical level, he said: "We will have to see from the results. The last time it went better, the day before not well for the Italian clubs. Italian football is expressing a good quality of play, with many teams giving satisfaction to their fans and many good matches." Gasperini admitted United's current difficulties make them dangerous: "We hope so, but it is always a big unknown. They are teams made up of very strong players who, especially in the league, have had difficulties. But you can always expect reactions and the ability to find the path they have not found until now. We hope for the opposite and to accentuate their difficulties." On his team selection, he said: "Let's see. We play so intensely between one match and the next that we have to wait until the last day to decide." Asked about Svilar, Koné and Dybala, he added: "We are travelling one step at a time. For now we play this match, then on Wednesday we return to Rome and we will assess all three to see whether it is possible to recover them for Sassuolo or after the break."

Roma's goal-scoring machine rolled on with a five-goal haul at Udine, and the win piled pressure on defending champions Inter, who are no longer top of Serie A after Lazio's unstoppable run. Roma have now scored 28 league goals in their first ten matchdays, a new Serie A record, surpassing the 26 scored in 1960-61 and 2016-17. Across all competitions, the club have netted 36 goals in 13 matches, an average of three every ninety minutes. The figures put the team on course for around 100 goals this season. What stands out most is not just the total but the spread of scorers: fourteen different players have found the net out of the twenty available to Gian Piero Gasperini. Donyell Malen remains the sure thing up front, but the rest of the squad are eager to get involved. In Udine, two defenders joined the list. Evan N'Dicka scored at the stadium where, in April 2024, he suffered a serious scare after a collapse. Daniele Ghilardi scored for the first time in Serie A and in a Roma shirt, a reward for a season in which he has become increasingly central to Gasperini's plans. Only Paulo Dybala, Lorenzo Pellegrini, Wesley, Devyne Rensch, Gianluca Mancini and Konstantinos Koulierakis are yet to score this season.

Roma defender Konstantinos Koulierakis has opened up about his early career in Greece in an interview with Greek public broadcaster ERT on the programme Kalimera ipame?, and he has left the door open to a return to PAOK one day. The Greek centre-back, who is gradually carving out a place in Gian Piero Gasperini's squad during a particularly demanding period for Roma, described how he joined the PAOK academy. Koulierakis recalled that his trip to Thessaloniki had been cancelled several times before he finally made it. Joining the PAOK academy had been a dream, and he said he was overjoyed on hearing the news, although naturally also nervous. He was kept on from the third day, without having to complete a full week of trials. "Maybe they wouldn't have kept me if I had arrived earlier," he said. He moved to Thessaloniki alone, living for three years in the PAOK accommodation. His parents had been offered the chance to follow him, but he never asked them to come. "I wanted to face this experience on my own. From the moment I entered the academy, my goal was to reach the first team, and to make it. That's why I never thought I missed my parents. I was very aware of what I wanted." He trained with the first team at first, then took part in the pre-season preparation, and from there he broke into the senior side, where he also played. He spent two years in the first team before Wolfsburg came in, and he is now at Roma. "I had completed two full seasons at PAOK, a big club where there is pressure. We won the league, lost finals, I felt fulfilled and ready for the next step." Asked whether he would ever return to play in Greece, Koulierakis was clear about his preference. "Obviously I would like to play for PAOK. As a player you never know what the future holds, but certainly at PAOK, because I lived very beautiful moments there and PAOK made me grow. It showed me the way to become a professional."

Roma routed Udinese at the Bluenergy Stadium with an authoritative performance that left Runjaic's side well beaten, and the Italian sports dailies rewarded almost the entire squad with high marks. Molina was the exception, rated among the least impressive players on the Friulian side. In the ratings from Corriere dello Sport, Cristante earned an 8, the highest mark on the Roma side, while Ghilardi and N'Dicka both received 7.5. Mora and Soulé were also given 7.5, and Malen 7.5, with Gasperini awarded 7.5 as coach. Il Messaggero, Corriere della Sera, La Repubblica and Tuttosport all also gave Cristante an 8 or 7.5 and Ghilardi and N'Dicka solid marks of 6.5 to 7, with Mora and Malen praised in several papers. Molina was marked 6 by most dailies, and 6.5 by La Repubblica, while Wesley's ratings ranged from 6 to 7. Gasperini received 7.5 from most papers, and 7 from Tuttosport. Gollini, Hermoso and De Roon were rated more moderately, with Gollini getting a 6 across the board. Substitutes were also assessed. Pisilli came on for Mora and was given 6.5 by Corriere dello Sport and 6 by the other papers, while Castro was rated 6.5 or 6 after replacing Malen. Mancini's cameo earned a 6 from Il Messaggero and Tuttosport, and Koulierakis and Rensch were left unrated.