Gasperini keeps Gollini fitness in doubt as Vásquez may start against Sassuolo

Roma's defence is under growing strain, having conceded 14 goals in their last seven matches, an average of two per game. The figure is a warning sign for Gasperini and raises serious questions about the team's defensive stability. There is a paradox, though: excluding the defeats to Real Madrid and Manchester United, Roma have not lost in this period. They have shipped plenty of goals but have usually managed to respond. In the Champions League, one detail stands out. In both comebacks Roma have conceded, the collapse came after Hermoso left the pitch. Manchester United scored twice in 15 minutes, and Real Madrid scored three times in 20. Whether this is coincidence or a real factor is hard to establish. Hermoso brings experience, personality and security to the back line, and his absence was clearly felt on both occasions. The absence of Mile Svilar weighs heavily too. Since his injury, a problem with the fifth toe of his foot, Roma have lost their main defensive reference point, a goalkeeper capable of preventing one or two goals a game. Gollini has not let the team down and has often been decisive, but Svilar projects a different sort of security. Behind him, the defence knows it has a goalkeeper ready to correct a mistake and make a save when needed. It is no coincidence that Roma have begun conceding so many goals without him. Gasperini must now work on restoring solidity and, above all, the confidence the side seems to have lost, because the two go hand in hand. When trust disappears, even the most solid wall can start to crack.

Manu Koné is reportedly close to full recovery from a thigh muscle injury and could return to the bench for Saturday's Serie A trip against Sassuolo, the eleventh round of the season. Il Tempo reports that Gian Piero Gasperini may have one of his key midfield figures available, at least among the substitutes, after Koné missed 20 days with the injury. The focus turns to the weekend immediately after Roma's Champions League defeat to Manchester United, with the disappointment of that result giving way to preparation for the Sassuolo fixture. Koné's possible return would be a welcome boost for Gasperini as Roma look to bounce back in Serie A. The report also states that Paulo Dybala remains in doubt for the match. Further details on the squad's fitness and selection are expected as the week progresses.

Manu Koné is moving quickly towards a return from injury in time for Saturday's match against Sassuolo, according to Il Tempo. Paulo Dybala also hopes to be available and has resumed training on the pitch, aiming to return to availability as soon as possible. Roma need their big players. They have managed without some of their most dazzling names in Serie A, winning and convincing, but the comeback conceded against Manchester United exposed a problem: when matches become hard and tense, the giallorossi risk losing their composure. The issue is more mental than physical, and head coach Gian Piero Gasperini will have to work on it. The infirmary could offer some help in the meantime. Gasperini hopes to count on both players. Starting them appears unlikely, but having them available, even only on the bench, makes all the difference, and Gasperini knows it.

Roma's defence is under growing strain, having conceded 14 goals in their last seven matches, an average of two per game. The figure is a warning sign for Gasperini and raises serious questions about the team's defensive stability. There is a paradox, though: excluding the defeats to Real Madrid and Manchester United, Roma have not lost in this period. They have shipped plenty of goals but have usually managed to respond. In the Champions League, one detail stands out. In both comebacks Roma have conceded, the collapse came after Hermoso left the pitch. Manchester United scored twice in 15 minutes, and Real Madrid scored three times in 20. Whether this is coincidence or a real factor is hard to establish. Hermoso brings experience, personality and security to the back line, and his absence was clearly felt on both occasions. The absence of Mile Svilar weighs heavily too. Since his injury, a problem with the fifth toe of his foot, Roma have lost their main defensive reference point, a goalkeeper capable of preventing one or two goals a game. Gollini has not let the team down and has often been decisive, but Svilar projects a different sort of security. Behind him, the defence knows it has a goalkeeper ready to correct a mistake and make a save when needed. It is no coincidence that Roma have begun conceding so many goals without him. Gasperini must now work on restoring solidity and, above all, the confidence the side seems to have lost, because the two go hand in hand. When trust disappears, even the most solid wall can start to crack.

Roma threw away a two-goal lead at Old Trafford, losing 3-2 to Manchester United in another late collapse in the Champions League, following the 3-4 defeat by Real Madrid. Leggo describes the result as another painful late capitulation after Roma had led twice. Roma were dominant in the first half and went 2-0 up within 17 minutes, with Mora and Soulé making the difference. Soulé scored the opener, then won a penalty that Malen converted with real authority. Malen had two chances to make it 3-0, but first fell asleep in the area and then saw a fine save from Lammens. Soulé also tried again with a long-range effort that struck the woodwork. The second half changed everything. United, on the brink, came out with a different attitude and were helped by referee Gil Manzano. He first awarded a dubious penalty for a minimal touch on Mancini. He then ordered the spot-kick retaken after Vásquez, who was in goal following Gollini's injury in the final minutes, had saved the first attempt. Bruno Fernandes scored at the second attempt. From that moment Roma suffered, with Mbeumo also hitting both posts. Roma held firm until seven minutes from the end, when a shocking mistake from Balerdi opened the way for Cunha. Gasperini's side were running on empty, and three minutes later Cunha struck the decisive third goal with a powerful shot across goal into the near post, before being sent off. The defeat leaves Roma with another painful lesson in Europe, following the collapse against Real Madrid, and Old Trafford has once again proved a place of nightmares for the club. Leggo said the late loss is another large regret for the Giallorossi, who controlled much of the match before fading after the break.

Roma threw away a 2-0 lead at Old Trafford, with Manchester United coming back to win in another painful Champions League late collapse for the Giallorossi. The result echoed the earlier defeat to Real Madrid, and the Old Trafford venue has become a source of nightmares for the club. Roma dominated the first half and were ahead within 17 minutes. Mora found the net and Soulé was the difference-maker, first scoring the 0-1 and then winning a penalty that Malen struck masterfully. Malen had two chances to make it 0-3, but first fell asleep in the area and then was denied by a fine save from Lammens. Soulé also went close, with a long-range effort striking the post. In the second half, however, everything changed. United, on the brink, came out with a different intensity and were helped by referee Manzano. He first awarded a dubious penalty for a minimal touch by Mancini. He then ordered the spot-kick retaken after Vásquez, who was in goal following Gollini's last-minute injury, had saved the first attempt, and Bruno Fernandes scored at the second attempt. From that point Roma suffered, with Mbeumo also hitting both posts. Roma held firm until seven minutes from time, when a disastrous slip by Balerdi opened the way for Cunha. The Roma side was running on empty, and three minutes later Cunha made it 3-2 with a fierce strike on the near post before being sent off. Gasperini said: "Ci servirà da lezione", meaning the defeat will serve as a lesson for the club.

Roma lost 3-2 at Old Trafford in Manchester, having led by two goals before being pegged back, a result that makes qualification for the Champions League knockout phase harder. Italian newspapers were unanimous in praising the first half as very high level, but the second half was markedly less bright, and a much-disputed penalty awarded to the hosts added to Roma's frustration. The papers' player ratings were widely critical of Balerdi, who received a 4.5 from La Gazzetta dello Sport, a 4 from Corriere dello Sport and La Repubblica, and a 5 from Il Messaggero. Soulé was the standout performer, rated 7.5 by La Gazzetta dello Sport, Corriere dello Sport and La Repubblica, and 7 by Il Messaggero and Corriere della Sera. Mora also earned strong marks, with a 7 from Corriere dello Sport and La Repubblica. Pisilli was judged harshly, rated 5 by La Gazzetta dello Sport, 4.5 by Corriere dello Sport, La Repubblica and Corriere della Sera, and 5 by Il Messaggero and Il Tempo. Gasperini was given a 5.5 by La Gazzetta dello Sport and La Repubblica, a 5 by Corriere dello Sport and Corriere della Sera, and a 6 by Il Messaggero and Il Tempo. Vásquez received 5.5 from Il Messaggero and 6 from La Repubblica, Il Tempo and Romanews.eu. Cristante earned 6.5 from La Gazzetta dello Sport and Corriere della Sera, and Wesley was rated 6.5 by Corriere dello Sport and Il Tempo. Malen was rated 7 by La Repubblica, with Castro's late cameo marked between 5 and 6 across the papers.

Roma were dominant for 45 minutes at Manchester United before collapsing in the second half, a defeat that Italian newspapers describe as a painful one. It is the club's second Champions League blackout, following the defeat against Real Madrid, and a collapse that Gian Piero Gasperini will have to work on for a long time. Matías Soulé was named the best Roma player on the pitch, playing a perfect first half, opening the scoring and winning the penalty that made it 2-0. However, he faded in the second half, as did the rest of the team. Defender Leonardo Balerdi was rated the worst player on the pitch, with his error on United's equaliser to make it 2-2 weighing heavily on him. The collapse after such a strong start is seen as difficult to explain, and it puts a spotlight on the team's ability to hold a lead against top opposition. The Italian sports press rated the Roma players in a range of marks across five newspapers. Gazzetta dello Sport gave Soulé 6.5 and Balerdi 4, and Corriere dello Sport gave Soulé 7.5 and Balerdi 4. Il Messaggero gave Soulé 7 and Balerdi 5, while Il Tempo gave Soulé 7 and Balerdi 4.5. Corriere della Sera rated Soulé 7 and Balerdi 4.5, and Leggo gave Soulé 7 and Balerdi 4.5. Gasperini received marks between 5 and 6 across the papers. Roma lined up in a 3-4-2-1 formation. Vásquez started in goal, with Mancini, Balerdi and Hermoso in defence, and Rensch, Cristante, de Roon and Wesley in midfield. Soulé and Mora played behind Malen. Rensch was replaced by Lulli at 21 minutes, Mora by Pisilli at half-time, and Mancini and Hermoso were replaced by Ghilardi and Ndicka at 75 minutes. Malen made way for Castro at 80 minutes.

Roma threw away a two-goal lead at Manchester United in the Champions League, losing 3-2 after a dominant first half in which Soulé and Malen (from the penalty spot) had put them ahead. The collapse follows a similar late unravelling against Real Madrid, and this time the defeat is even more painful. Roma controlled the first half, rattling a United side that looked unrecognisable, before disappearing from the pitch after the break with no reaction and no ability to ease the English pressure. The responsibility, the article argues, must be shared, and head coach Gasperini must accept his part. Taking off Rodrigo Mora at half-time, after the Portuguese had lit up Roma's attacking play, was hard to understand. Pisilli's introduction was meant to bring more substance and dynamism but removed quality and unpredictability, and from that point Roma barely threatened. Replacing the injured Rensch with Lulli, rather than the more experienced Molina, also raised doubts; the young winger suffered badly under the weight of the match and United's pressure. Both choices failed and Gasperini will have to reflect on them. The squad is also showing strain. The absences of Manu Koné and Paulo Dybala were felt, especially when the team needed fresh legs and quality to escape difficult moments. Roma still lack a quick attacking winger who can beat a man and turn a move, something the club sought without success during the summer transfer window. Balerdi, probably the best player on the pitch until then, made a costly error, missing the ball on the cross that allowed Cunha to equalise. A few minutes later it was 3-2. The decisive moment was the penalty awarded to United for a very light contact between Mancini and Cunha, which looked utterly incomprehensible. The retake, after Vásquez had saved the first attempt, was justified because Cristante's foot was already inside the box, but the initial decision that revived a struggling United side remains a source of enormous doubt. Bruno Fernandes's goal reignited United and Old Trafford. The real problem, the article says, was what happened in the minds and legs of the Roma players: as the pace rose and United pressed harder, Roma were gripped by fear of losing a victory already within reach and could not respond. Gasperini acknowledged after the game that this defeat could teach Roma even more than the loss to Real Madrid, and the article agrees, while insisting the problem must be faced rather than hidden behind the refereeing call or the absences. The result leaves Roma's hopes of reaching the Champions League play-off round harder to secure. The club now face Sassuolo on Saturday evening at the Olimpico, a final push before the international break. The article says Roma must recover injured players, energy and composure, and collect three points, while the championship remains the season's main target. Roma have repeatedly shown they can bounce back from disappointment, and the article concludes that the real frustration is seeing how strong this team can be, and how little it still takes for them to stop being so.

Roma's defence is under growing strain, having conceded 14 goals in their last seven matches, an average of two per game. The figure is a warning sign for Gasperini and raises serious questions about the team's defensive stability. There is a paradox, though: excluding the defeats to Real Madrid and Manchester United, Roma have not lost in this period. They have shipped plenty of goals but have usually managed to respond. In the Champions League, one detail stands out. In both comebacks Roma have conceded, the collapse came after Hermoso left the pitch. Manchester United scored twice in 15 minutes, and Real Madrid scored three times in 20. Whether this is coincidence or a real factor is hard to establish. Hermoso brings experience, personality and security to the back line, and his absence was clearly felt on both occasions. The absence of Mile Svilar weighs heavily too. Since his injury, a problem with the fifth toe of his foot, Roma have lost their main defensive reference point, a goalkeeper capable of preventing one or two goals a game. Gollini has not let the team down and has often been decisive, but Svilar projects a different sort of security. Behind him, the defence knows it has a goalkeeper ready to correct a mistake and make a save when needed. It is no coincidence that Roma have begun conceding so many goals without him. Gasperini must now work on restoring solidity and, above all, the confidence the side seems to have lost, because the two go hand in hand. When trust disappears, even the most solid wall can start to crack.

Former Roma striker Pruzzo said Roma still have to develop to compete at the highest level, after a defeat to Manchester United in which a penalty decision changed the course of the match. Speaking to Radio Radio Mattino, Pruzzo said: "I don't know how United managed to get back into the match. The penalty episode affected how the game went. At 2-1 the difference emerged between a great side and one that still has to grow to compete at the highest levels." Torri, speaking on Radio Manà Manà Sport, placed the referee's performance at the centre of the result, saying it had a big influence. He added that Roma, given their situation with UEFA, had chosen to keep a low profile. Torri also questioned how Mourinho would have reacted: "Can you imagine Mourinho last night? He would have exploded." He argued that Roma have a short squad and that substitutions often fail to maintain the level of quality, adding that matches of this intensity wear players down mentally more than physically, so the right changes are essential. Torri said the absences of Koné and Svilar were devastating. Pruzzo was equally critical of the substitutions: "The changes brought nothing. In fact, they made the situation worse." He said Roma cannot beat sides of their own level in Italy, while losing to stronger teams in Europe. Orsi, also on Radio Radio Mattino, linked the problems to physical stamina: "Perhaps it is a question of physical endurance. In Italy the drop-offs don't show, abroad they hurt you." He called for some criticism of Gasperini, pointing to three goals from corners against Real Madrid and to yesterday's match and the one against Inter. "He is not untouchable, he too makes mistakes."

Former Roma striker Roberto Pruzzo has said the club still lacks what it needs to compete at the highest level, in comments gathered from Rome's radio stations. Pruzzo, speaking on Radio Radio Mattino (104.5), questioned how Manchester United, as the article renders it "lo United", managed to come back into the match, and said the penalty decision had shaped how the game went. He said: "At 2-1 the difference emerged between a great side and one that still has to grow in order to compete at the highest level. In Italy you can't beat teams of your own level, while in Europe you lose against the superior ones. The substitutions brought nothing. In fact, they made the situation worse." Piero Torri, of Radio Manà Manà Sport Roma (90.9), said the referee's performance had a big influence on the result, but argued that Roma, given the situation with UEFA, had chosen to play with a low profile. He also said the squad is short, and that substitutes often fail to match the quality of the starters. Torri added: "When you play matches of this level, which wear you down mentally more than physically, you need the right changes. The absence of Koné and Svilar is devastating." He also asked: "Can you imagine Mourinho last night? He would have exploded…" Nando Orsi, also of Radio Radio Mattino (104.5), offered a physical explanation: "Perhaps it's a question of physical stamina. In Italy the dips don't show, abroad they hurt you." He called for some criticism of Gasperini: "With Real Madrid, 3 goals from corners, not to mention yesterday and Inter. He is not untouchable, he too makes mistakes."