Gasperini on Genoa past, Roma's momentum and Lazio's strong start

Mile Svilar is training individually at Trigoria as he works to return to action as quickly as possible. The goalkeeper's session was a special one, as he was accompanied by his one-year-and-five-month-old son, Lio-Mile. On social media, Svilar posted a tender photo of himself on the pitch. Roma will return to training at Trigoria on Wednesday. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini, meanwhile, travelled to Genoa for the 5th edition of the "Un Cuore da Leone" award, where he spoke about both his time at Roma and the Serie A season. Gasperini said: "L'Inter che sia la grande squadra si sa. Anche il Como lo è. È un campionato equilibrato e straordinario. Roma? Una storia iniziata da un anno e mezzo ma meravigliosa, speriamo di continuare su questa strada." In English: "Everyone knows Inter are the great team. Como are too. It is a balanced and extraordinary league. Roma? A story that began a year and a half ago but is wonderful, and we hope to continue on this path."

Roma head coach Gian Piero Gasperini was in Genoa today, 8 November 2026, to receive the 5th edition of the "Un Cuore da Leone" award, set up by Stelle nello Sport to honour Gian Luigi Corti, a sports journalist and administrator and Stella d'Oro al merito sportivo recipient. He was recognised alongside Arianna Fontana, Gregorio Paltrinieri, Ambra Sabatini and Nicolò Martinenghi. Speaking on the evening, Gasperini said: "Occasione fantastica di tornare a Genova e ritrovare tanti amici. Questo riconoscimento è un orgoglio, è una bellissima serata." He said the award reflected the courage and generosity he has always shown as a coach. "Anche un po' di pazzia (ride, ndr)... sicuramente il coraggio è una componente importante dello sport, è stato così per me anche a Genova e credo che anche oggi la Roma lo sia." On his time in Genoa, he added: "Il fatto che sia rimasto un ricordo vivo nonostante sia passato del tempo significa che abbiamo fatto qualcosa di bello. La tifoseria ha vissuto anni di entusiasmo." Asked about Stephan El Shaarawy, who has returned to Genoa, Gasperini said: "Il tempo passa... quando ha esordito con me era il più giovane nella storia del Genoa. Ci siamo ritrovati a Roma e ha segnato il gol decisivo per la Champions a maggio. Ora è tornato qui a Genova e darà un grande contributo." Gasperini also reflected on his spells at Atalanta, where he has worked in two periods. "Tutte le tappe sono fondamentali... Difficile fare una classifica, sicuramente è stata fondamentale. Bergamo ancora più recente, meravigliosa e figlia del mio percorso." On his Roma project, he said: "Una storia iniziata da un anno e mezzo ma meravigliosa, speriamo di continuare su questa strada. Roma ha dei numeri più grandi, se riesci a fare bene in questa città il risalto è maggiore." On Lazio's position near the top of the table, he said: "È una sorpresa per tutti ma è anche un grande valore per la città che ha due squadre lì in alto. È straordinaria, la Roma ha sempre lo stadio pieno, la Lazio magari ha altri problemi. È una città che vive per il calcio." Asked whether he expected Roma to be this strong, he replied: "Sono mesi che riusciamo a essere competitivi in Italia. Siamo cresciuti, il girone di ritorno dello scorso anno è stato di livello. Quest'anno è ancora presto, 11 partite sono poche ma sono significative del comportamento e dell'atteggiamento della squadra. Abbiamo creato un ambiente che ci dà tanta benzina per continuare a fare bene." Looking ahead, he said: "L'ambizione è guardare sempre avanti, a volte come questa sera ti volti indietro. Ma ho ancora voglia di guardare avanti alle prossime partite. Ora la sosta ci aiuterà ma dopo bisogna continuare così." On Inter's game against Como, he said: "Sapevo che fossero sul 2-0... l'Inter che sia la grande squadra si sa. Anche il Como lo è. È un campionato equilibrato e straordinario."

Roma's Primavera side were held to a 1-1 draw at home by Hellas Verona at the Tre Fontane, a result that leaves a bitter taste given the team's positive run and the fact that they were held by a side much lower in the table. Head coach Mattia Scala spoke to the club's official channels after the match, admitting the result was not what the squad wanted. "I'm sorry, because it's the fourth consecutive draw we've had at home in the league, and always with a similar script. We had already played in a certain way for a half or a half and a bit, but then conceded the draw. It's a question of mentality, which we absolutely have to overcome, otherwise we risk ruining the good path we are on." Roma have drawn more often than any other high-ranking team, and Scala said this is no coincidence. "We have to improve the attacking side, we make too many wrong choices. We produce a lot, but we score too little for the volume of play we put in place, for the dominance we have over the opponent and for the value of the players we have. We just have to roll up our sleeves and give even more to improve our path." Asked whether tiredness from the many recent fixtures had played a part, Scala rejected the idea. "Tiredness is a mental fact, certainly not physical. There are players who have played seven or eight matches and at the end were still pushing. It's not an aspect to consider. The match had been prepared well and we started well in terms of approach and quality. Unfortunately, it went this way." Among the positives was the goal from Arduini, who is earning more and more space. "Last year he played little, this year we have thrown him in, he gives us dynamism and he is a golden boy, who always goes at full power. He had some small problems that he carried over in recent weeks, but today, beyond the goal, he gave us an extra push in midfield." Another reason to smile came from the first call-up of Valerio Maccaroni to the first team. "This is the most important result. By the way, I have known Valerio since he was 13 years old. When he told me about the call-up he was almost crying with joy and it moved me. Today he played a wonderful match. It is not obvious to experience the emotions he felt yesterday and to come here today playing with the hunger and desire he showed. I congratulate him for both things." Looking ahead, some players will join their national teams during the international break, and the squad has a few days of rest. Scala said the team will then work to restore energy, as another very long and demanding run of fixtures awaits until Christmas.

Roma head coach Gian Piero Gasperini was in Genoa today, 8 November 2026, to receive the 5th edition of the "Un Cuore da Leone" award, set up by Stelle nello Sport to honour Gian Luigi Corti, a sports journalist and administrator and Stella d'Oro al merito sportivo recipient. He was recognised alongside Arianna Fontana, Gregorio Paltrinieri, Ambra Sabatini and Nicolò Martinenghi. Speaking on the evening, Gasperini said: "Occasione fantastica di tornare a Genova e ritrovare tanti amici. Questo riconoscimento è un orgoglio, è una bellissima serata." He said the award reflected the courage and generosity he has always shown as a coach. "Anche un po' di pazzia (ride, ndr)... sicuramente il coraggio è una componente importante dello sport, è stato così per me anche a Genova e credo che anche oggi la Roma lo sia." On his time in Genoa, he added: "Il fatto che sia rimasto un ricordo vivo nonostante sia passato del tempo significa che abbiamo fatto qualcosa di bello. La tifoseria ha vissuto anni di entusiasmo." Asked about Stephan El Shaarawy, who has returned to Genoa, Gasperini said: "Il tempo passa... quando ha esordito con me era il più giovane nella storia del Genoa. Ci siamo ritrovati a Roma e ha segnato il gol decisivo per la Champions a maggio. Ora è tornato qui a Genova e darà un grande contributo." Gasperini also reflected on his spells at Atalanta, where he has worked in two periods. "Tutte le tappe sono fondamentali... Difficile fare una classifica, sicuramente è stata fondamentale. Bergamo ancora più recente, meravigliosa e figlia del mio percorso." On his Roma project, he said: "Una storia iniziata da un anno e mezzo ma meravigliosa, speriamo di continuare su questa strada. Roma ha dei numeri più grandi, se riesci a fare bene in questa città il risalto è maggiore." On Lazio's position near the top of the table, he said: "È una sorpresa per tutti ma è anche un grande valore per la città che ha due squadre lì in alto. È straordinaria, la Roma ha sempre lo stadio pieno, la Lazio magari ha altri problemi. È una città che vive per il calcio." Asked whether he expected Roma to be this strong, he replied: "Sono mesi che riusciamo a essere competitivi in Italia. Siamo cresciuti, il girone di ritorno dello scorso anno è stato di livello. Quest'anno è ancora presto, 11 partite sono poche ma sono significative del comportamento e dell'atteggiamento della squadra. Abbiamo creato un ambiente che ci dà tanta benzina per continuare a fare bene." Looking ahead, he said: "L'ambizione è guardare sempre avanti, a volte come questa sera ti volti indietro. Ma ho ancora voglia di guardare avanti alle prossime partite. Ora la sosta ci aiuterà ma dopo bisogna continuare così." On Inter's game against Como, he said: "Sapevo che fossero sul 2-0... l'Inter che sia la grande squadra si sa. Anche il Como lo è. È un campionato equilibrato e straordinario."

Roma avoided their first league defeat of the season at the Maradona, rescued from a 2-0 deficit by Stephan El Shaarawy's...

Gianluca Piacentini of Rete Sport insisted Roma paid 25 million euros for Mora, not 50 million, in the latest instalment of the Roman radio roundup. He said: "Roma paid 25 million for Mora, then if this year he scores 100 goals and is worth 200 million, Roma have the option of paying 25 million to remove that clause on a future resale. But they did not buy 50% of the player, they bought 100% of the player. If they sell him, they must give 50% of what they receive, which Roma can remove by paying another 25 million. Since you have been insinuating for days that he is rubbish but you do not have the courage to say it, you say he was paid 50 million, but it is not true! If Roma take Mora to the end of his contract, they will have paid 25 million. It is very clear." Rossi, also on Rete Sport, reopened the debate over Pellegrini, saying that some people had doubted Roma's decision to renew Dybala and Pellegrini this summer, citing a history of injuries. He said Dybala has not reached half of his appearances and that Pellegrini had reached his 100th injury. Pellegrini has now re-injured the musculotendinous junction of the flexor, and will take another three months out. Rossi added that the injury was not fixed and that the club paid five million gross for the player, money he said Roma could have spent better. On Tele Radio Stereo, Alessio Nardo asked whether this is Pellegrini's last season with Roma, adding that the speculation should be hedged because "with Pellegrini you never know". He also questioned whether Gasperini chose to speak at his press conference today to avoid questions about possible errors in the transfer market and about underestimating certain aspects. Nardo described a city that remains bitter even after a third-place finish and seven wins in ten matches, saying Mora had become "the new Zaragoza" and had been "destroyed" over the last 48 hours. Lorenzo Pes disagreed, arguing that Gasperini skipped the press conference simply because of a run of closely spaced matches. Valentina Catoni argued that the real problem was not renewing Pellegrini but failing to sign another forward, saying Gasperini had asked for at least one more player up front. Piero Torri of Manà Manà Sport said Roma are playing the season with only 20 outfield players, two of whom, Dybala and Pellegrini, have had a hard few years. He said the club's wage bill problem is the card Roma will play in front of UEFA, and claimed Pellegrini has played only 150 minutes in total. Torri also said he would have signed El Shaarawy at the end of the window, since he could play as a wide attacker or in midfield. Paola Cosenza voiced concern about Cristante, who is returning from a collateral ligament problem, fearing he may force his recovery. Marco Valerio Corsi said he expected Gasperini to protect Mora in the match at Napoli if he delivered another lacklustre performance, and that he doubted Wesley could play as a forward. Roberto Pruzzo said Soulé is growing and that Roma should build around him, and that he sees Santiago Castro as the alternative, adding that Mora looks too far behind the level required for the stage he is being asked to perform on. He said: "We must hope Malen doesn't even have a cold, otherwise it gets tough." Mario Mattioli argued that Pellegrini had only returned from injury two matches earlier and that the club had already lived through a similar situation. Nando Orsi criticised the constant talk of signings and of how Gasperini's training compares with that of previous years. The discussion is set to continue on the same programme, with pundits calling for Roma to reach January in contention for the top places before the club reassesses its options.