Gasperini focuses on Roma's mindset after stunning Real Madrid collapse

José Mourinho returned to the Olimpico for the first time in nearly three years as Real Madrid defeated Roma 4–3 in a comeback victory on Wednesday. Malen and his teammates dominated for 80 minutes but were undone by a dramatic rally in the closing stages. The loss stung, but Roma's supporters across the city, in bars, on social media and on radio programmes applauded the team's display—frustration exists, but fans believe the club can dream big this season after a disappointing year previously. The stadium paid tribute to Mourinho before and during the match, but the gesture divided the fanbase. Many on social media criticised the former coach for his final celebrations and jibes at his successor, with some supporters declaring him ungrateful and no longer a romanista. The current manager on Roma's bench draws less charisma than Mourinho but carries significant pedigree. The club's three-year project to win the Serie A title for the first time in 25 years remains on track, and supporters believe the direction is correct. While some supporters welcomed Mourinho's homecoming, others felt the Olimpico's pre-match and in-game tribute was inappropriate given his departure from the club. The overriding sentiment, however, reflects optimism about Roma's path forward under new leadership.

Roma face Genoa without Malen, Dybala, Svilar, Koné and Cristante, forcing Gasperini to rely on an unfamiliar attack centred on two summer arrivals. Rodrigo Mora (Portugal) and Santiago Castro (Argentina) will make their first competitive pairing, with Soulé alongside them. De Roon and Pisilli will lead midfield against Daniele De Rossi's Genoa, while Lulli replaces Molina at right-back. Both young forwards carry significant investment and expectation: Mora arrived on a €25 million deal with a further €25 million option to secure him permanently, while Castro cost €30 million plus performance bonuses and reportedly took the train to Rome to complete the move. Their combined valuation approaches €100 million. The squad's depleted state means Gasperini has little margin for error. Roma nearly overcame Real Madrid in their last outing and must translate that character into the league. Mora made an impression against Madrid, coming off the bench to provide an assist for Malen, a display that would have earned him a rating of seven or better had the comeback succeeded. Castro has not played since the final stages of the Torino match, though he has since made his Argentina debut. Both players now carry the weight of the club's summer faith on their shoulders. Mora, 19, and Castro, 22, have yet to score their first goals at the Olimpico despite joining this summer with significant pedigree and investment. For Roma, victory against Genoa is almost obligatory as the season enters its autumn phase.

Rafa Benítez has analysed Roma's Champions League defeat to Real Madrid at the Olimpico, saying the Italian side was the better team but lost due to defensive errors from dead-ball situations. Benítez, a former Liverpool and Napoli manager who won the Champions League with Liverpool in 2005, commented on the match as part of a wider assessment of four Italian defeats in a Champions League week. Benítez told La Gazzetta dello Sport: "Against a fortress like Real Madrid it can happen. But I must say that everything is exclusively linked to episodes in set-piece situations. Roma was superior, Real never managed to get down the flanks. The risk was in man-marking and it happened. But from an evening like that you can also keep the good things, knowing you must learn from the lapses." Roma came close to victory but were caught in a late comeback.

Roma face Genoa without Malen, Dybala, Svilar, Koné and Cristante, forcing Gasperini to rely on an unfamiliar attack centred on two summer arrivals. Rodrigo Mora (Portugal) and Santiago Castro (Argentina) will make their first competitive pairing, with Soulé alongside them. De Roon and Pisilli will lead midfield against Daniele De Rossi's Genoa, while Lulli replaces Molina at right-back. Both young forwards carry significant investment and expectation: Mora arrived on a €25 million deal with a further €25 million option to secure him permanently, while Castro cost €30 million plus performance bonuses and reportedly took the train to Rome to complete the move. Their combined valuation approaches €100 million. The squad's depleted state means Gasperini has little margin for error. Roma nearly overcame Real Madrid in their last outing and must translate that character into the league. Mora made an impression against Madrid, coming off the bench to provide an assist for Malen, a display that would have earned him a rating of seven or better had the comeback succeeded. Castro has not played since the final stages of the Torino match, though he has since made his Argentina debut. Both players now carry the weight of the club's summer faith on their shoulders. Mora, 19, and Castro, 22, have yet to score their first goals at the Olimpico despite joining this summer with significant pedigree and investment. For Roma, victory against Genoa is almost obligatory as the season enters its autumn phase.

Roma's loss to Real Madrid on Wednesday stung deeply—the team dominated for nearly the entire match before conceding three goals from corner kicks in the final eight minutes. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has chosen to speak publicly less than 48 hours after the defeat, a signal of his determination to rebuild momentum ahead of tomorrow's fixture against Genoa, then Roma-Slovan Bratislava on Tuesday. The setback must not erase what the squad has accomplished; Roma deserved to win until the 82nd minute, and individual errors in the closing stretch—from goalkeeper Pierluigi Gollini, defender Leonardo Balerdi, and Nahuel Molina—should not overshadow the collective effort. Gasperini's readiness to address the media reflects lessons learned from Roma's collapse against Juventus last season, when the team surrendered a 3–1 lead and conceded two late goals. The loss to Real Madrid represents a growth process for both squad and club—and may vindicate the coach's request for a left-sided attacker with a right foot and a left-sided winger, demands that were not whimsy but tactical necessity. Despite the pain, there is much to celebrate: Donyell Malen has proven himself no ordinary Italian second-string forward; Wesley delivered an outstanding display; and Matías Soulé provided immediate impact with an assist for Malen, as did midfielder Rodrigo Mora, while Marten de Roon also earned praise for his contribution. For tomorrow's Genoa match, Gasperini will have only 17 outfield players available. The absences strike at the spine of the side: goalkeeper Mile Svilar, midfielder Bryan Cristante, fellow midfielder Manu Koné, forward Paulo Dybala, and Malen are all unavailable. The fixture comes as Genoa, managed by Claudio Ranieri, provide the immediate test of Roma's response.

Roma's injury troubles deepened Wednesday when two key squad members went down with muscle injuries. Manu Koné limped off in the sixteenth minute, while Paulo Dybala did not return after half-time. Both players underwent instrumental examinations on 16 October, with early indications suggesting a longer absence for Koné. The French midfielder felt pain in the biceps femoris — the same area that troubled him twice last year — and risks missing matches against Genoa, Slovan, Napoli, Cagliari, Udinese, Manchester United and Sassuolo before the international break. Roma expect to deploy the partnership of Niccolò Pisilli and Marten de Roon against Genoa. Dybala, who had already undergone initial checks on 15 October, remained under observation, though the club was more optimistic about his prospects; he would not have played against Genoa regardless. Donyell Malen is unavailable through suspension, and Mile Svilar continues his absence from the squad.

Roma face Genoa without Malen, Dybala, Svilar, Koné and Cristante, forcing Gasperini to rely on an unfamiliar attack centred on two summer arrivals. Rodrigo Mora (Portugal) and Santiago Castro (Argentina) will make their first competitive pairing, with Soulé alongside them. De Roon and Pisilli will lead midfield against Daniele De Rossi's Genoa, while Lulli replaces Molina at right-back. Both young forwards carry significant investment and expectation: Mora arrived on a €25 million deal with a further €25 million option to secure him permanently, while Castro cost €30 million plus performance bonuses and reportedly took the train to Rome to complete the move. Their combined valuation approaches €100 million. The squad's depleted state means Gasperini has little margin for error. Roma nearly overcame Real Madrid in their last outing and must translate that character into the league. Mora made an impression against Madrid, coming off the bench to provide an assist for Malen, a display that would have earned him a rating of seven or better had the comeback succeeded. Castro has not played since the final stages of the Torino match, though he has since made his Argentina debut. Both players now carry the weight of the club's summer faith on their shoulders. Mora, 19, and Castro, 22, have yet to score their first goals at the Olimpico despite joining this summer with significant pedigree and investment. For Roma, victory against Genoa is almost obligatory as the season enters its autumn phase.

Roma's loss to Real Madrid on Wednesday stung deeply—the team dominated for nearly the entire match before conceding three goals from corner kicks in the final eight minutes. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has chosen to speak publicly less than 48 hours after the defeat, a signal of his determination to rebuild momentum ahead of tomorrow's fixture against Genoa, then Roma-Slovan Bratislava on Tuesday. The setback must not erase what the squad has accomplished; Roma deserved to win until the 82nd minute, and individual errors in the closing stretch—from goalkeeper Pierluigi Gollini, defender Leonardo Balerdi, and Nahuel Molina—should not overshadow the collective effort. Gasperini's readiness to address the media reflects lessons learned from Roma's collapse against Juventus last season, when the team surrendered a 3–1 lead and conceded two late goals. The loss to Real Madrid represents a growth process for both squad and club—and may vindicate the coach's request for a left-sided attacker with a right foot and a left-sided winger, demands that were not whimsy but tactical necessity. Despite the pain, there is much to celebrate: Donyell Malen has proven himself no ordinary Italian second-string forward; Wesley delivered an outstanding display; and Matías Soulé provided immediate impact with an assist for Malen, as did midfielder Rodrigo Mora, while Marten de Roon also earned praise for his contribution. For tomorrow's Genoa match, Gasperini will have only 17 outfield players available. The absences strike at the spine of the side: goalkeeper Mile Svilar, midfielder Bryan Cristante, fellow midfielder Manu Koné, forward Paulo Dybala, and Malen are all unavailable. The fixture comes as Genoa, managed by Claudio Ranieri, provide the immediate test of Roma's response.

Roma will be without five regulars for the visit to Genoa on 17 October following injuries sustained in the Champions League defeat to Real Madrid. Manu Koné and Paulo Dybala both left the Olimpico match with injuries and underwent instrumental tests. While Dybala's condition is not a major concern, there is significant anxiety over Koné, who left the pitch in tears. Gasperini will be unable to call on Svilar in goal, Cristante and Koné in midfield, and Dybala and Malen in attack — absences he plans to counter with Pisilli, Mora and Castro. The scale of these absences is substantial given Gasperini's reliance on this group early in the season, though the coach has previously stated publicly that he does not like to distinguish sharply between starters and reserves. The immediate priority is the results of Koné and Dybala's medical examinations. Dybala is expected to miss the Genoa fixture and return for the next Champions League match against Slovan, which Roma must win at all costs. Koné's situation is more serious. The risk is a right biceps femoris injury — if first-degree, it would sideline him for two weeks; if second-degree, three to four weeks. Almost certainly, the French midfielder will not return until after the international break, with hope of having him available for Roma's visit to Parma on 21 November.

Roma face Genoa without Malen, Dybala, Svilar, Koné and Cristante, forcing Gasperini to rely on an unfamiliar attack centred on two summer arrivals. Rodrigo Mora (Portugal) and Santiago Castro (Argentina) will make their first competitive pairing, with Soulé alongside them. De Roon and Pisilli will lead midfield against Daniele De Rossi's Genoa, while Lulli replaces Molina at right-back. Both young forwards carry significant investment and expectation: Mora arrived on a €25 million deal with a further €25 million option to secure him permanently, while Castro cost €30 million plus performance bonuses and reportedly took the train to Rome to complete the move. Their combined valuation approaches €100 million. The squad's depleted state means Gasperini has little margin for error. Roma nearly overcame Real Madrid in their last outing and must translate that character into the league. Mora made an impression against Madrid, coming off the bench to provide an assist for Malen, a display that would have earned him a rating of seven or better had the comeback succeeded. Castro has not played since the final stages of the Torino match, though he has since made his Argentina debut. Both players now carry the weight of the club's summer faith on their shoulders. Mora, 19, and Castro, 22, have yet to score their first goals at the Olimpico despite joining this summer with significant pedigree and investment. For Roma, victory against Genoa is almost obligatory as the season enters its autumn phase.

Roma's collapse against Real Madrid on Wednesday exposed a critical weakness: the absence of potent attacking alternatives on the bench. José Mourinho was able to deploy Arda Güler, Carlos Espí and Endrick to reshape Madrid's attack and mount their comeback, while Gasperini had to manage a squad already stretched by the injuries of Koné and Dybala, limiting his ability to shift the match through substitutions. The disparity underscores gaps in Roma's summer recruitment and points to unmet requests from the coaching staff. The club's priority remains a left-sided attacking winger, preferably right-footed, capable of beating defenders, creating numerical superiority and offering a concrete alternative to the regular starters. Roma also needs a left-footed full-back to broaden the manager's tactical options. Endrick would have represented one of the most appealing opportunities, as he demonstrated against Madrid, but Mourinho has publicly restated his determination to keep the Brazilian, declaring that anyone wanting to take him away in January will have to "fight" with him—language that makes any deal particularly difficult. Inspection has turned to other targets. Jamie Gittens at Chelsea has accumulated only 56 minutes in official competitions this season and may be open to a move in the next transfer window due to limited opportunities. Jamie Leweling at Stuttgart decided to stay over the summer but has not secured a regular starting place; in the first five Bundesliga matches he started only once, though he played over seventy minutes in the last fixture against Paderborn. His situation remains unresolved. New names on the radar include Kvernadze and Van Bommel. Tony D'Amico's task in the coming weeks will be to assess which opportunities can materialise—either from targets already monitored in summer or from new situations involving discontented players, those with limited game time, or those who become suddenly available. In January, Roma will seek above all another signing in the mould of Malen: a ready-made reinforcement to slot into rotation and immediately strengthen attacking depth. Wednesday's match against Real highlighted once more how heavily alternatives can weigh, especially when a contest is decided in the final twenty minutes.

Endrick came off Real Madrid's bench at the Olimpico on Tuesday night and delivered a masterclass in exactly why Roma had pursued him as a potential signing. The Brazilian entered with Madrid trailing 3–1 and proved decisive in their comeback: his header forced Gollini into a save that led to Espí's goal to make it 3–2, then Endrick himself scored to level at 3–3. Beyond those moments, his aggression, dribbling and ability to create danger in the box transformed Madrid's attacking threat in the final stages—a painful reminder to Gasperini's squad of what they lacked. The contrast between the two benches laid bare one of Roma's remaining gaps. Mourinho could call on Arda Güler, Carlos Espí and Endrick to shift momentum; Gasperini, already without the injured Koné and Dybala, had no equivalent tools for tactical change through substitution. The issue points directly to the transfer market. Although Roma acted in the summer, not all of Gasperini's targets were met, and some roster vacancies remain unresolved. The primary gap is a left-sided attacking winger—preferably right-footed, capable of beating defenders, creating superiority and offering a genuine alternative to the regular starters. Gasperini has also requested greater depth at left wing-back. Endrick would have been one of the most attractive opportunities, but Mourinho has publicly protected him, stating he has no intention of letting him leave and declaring that anyone wishing to sign him in January would have to "fight" him. That firm stance complicates any move now. However, Endrick did not entirely rule out a winter departure after the Olimpico match, explaining that if he leaves in January, he will do so. Roma must now find an alternative. Jamie Gittens at Chelsea remains under observation: he has logged only 56 minutes across official competitions so far this season, little playing time that could prompt a January exit. Jamie Leweling presents a different picture. The German chose to stay at Stuttgart in the summer and has not become a fixture; in the Bundesliga he started only one of the first five matchdays, though he played over seventy minutes against Paderborn most recently. His use has been inconsistent, and his name could regain relevance if his situation does not improve. Tony D'Amico's task is now to identify which opportunities may emerge in the coming weeks—not necessarily names already chased in the summer, but perhaps deals that develop unexpectedly by exploiting a dissatisfied, underused or suddenly available player. Roma will seek in January what they need: another signing like Malen, a player who can slot immediately into rotation and alter the squad's attacking weight. The night against Real showed how vital alternatives become when matches enter their final twenty minutes.