Gasperini on market constraints, Dybala's form and need for two more signings

Bryan Cristante has addressed his knee injury and Roma's outlook for the season ahead, speaking at the launch of Adidas's EQT 2026-27 collection. The midfielder confirmed he is managing discomfort in the knee and hopes to recover as soon as possible, though he acknowledged the timeline remains uncertain. "I have this problem with my knee. We are clearly trying to recover as soon as possible. We hope we can manage it, but we see it as a bit difficult. We are trying to do it as soon as possible," he said. Cristante credited the decision by the squad to remain at Roma for the continuity that has been built. "Yes, absolutely. I think continuity is fundamental. Last season we had a great season, so we all wanted to repeat it. We knew we would start from a more solid and consolidated base, so clearly there was a desire from everyone to stay and repeat ourselves and try to do better," he explained. Roma finished third in Serie A last season, and Cristante said the group is aware of the standards required to compete at that level again. "We know we can reach those positions. Our objective is to maintain these standards, those of last season, and to reach as high as possible. Then seasons are long, Italian football is difficult, but we want to repeat ourselves," he added. The midfielder highlighted Como and Real Madrid as significant fixtures coming up. "It is still early. Clearly everything will still be open, but certainly they are two big matches. There is Como, which is a direct rival of ours, and then there is Real Madrid. They are two important and beautiful matches, but it is early: the championship is still long," Cristante said. He also expressed warmth about the prospect of facing José Mourinho, who formerly managed Roma. "It is always nice to see the coach again. We lived beautiful moments together and it will certainly be a great pleasure," he said. On the new Italy squad under Roberto Mancini, Cristante offered encouragement. "It seems good to me. Clearly it is normal that there were some initial difficulties, but I am happy with the young players. I think they did very well, that there is a great future and that there are many players who can do well from here on and who will only grow," he said. When asked if he would be available for Italy in November, he remained non-committal: "Let's see how the rest of the season goes."

Gian Piero Gasperini has reflected on his opening year as Roma head coach, emphasizing the importance of continuity and the contribution of Paulo Dybala to the club's ambitions. In an interview with La Stampa, Gasperini addressed his methods, the squad's defensive solidity and the competitive balance of Serie A after five fixtures. Asked about his impact at Roma beyond tactics alone, Gasperini said: "As in all situations, I believe the secret is to work well, with professionalism, and then have good players available, excellent people, a fine club and an enthusiastic environment. It is a bit like when you work in vineyards: you must have all these components at your disposal." On how a strong defence is built, he added: "It depends; sometimes these are characteristics unique to teams. There are seasons when offensive play prevails. But ultimately, when you play at the top level, the formations rewarded are those capable of defending and attacking." When asked directly whether he personally persuaded Dybala to remain at Roma, Gasperini stated: "I certainly believed that Dybala, as a great champion, had to remain absolutely at Roma. But the most important will was his own, united with that of the club and the entire environment." On the wider Serie A landscape, Gasperini noted that after five matches it remains early to draw firm conclusions, but described the campaign as likely to be very balanced. He identified Cagliari and Frosinone as the sides that have impressed him most in the opening rounds. On his broader philosophy, Gasperini emphasized that paths forward are never straight: "There are always cycles, you go high, then you go down. And it is precisely in those moments that you must have the strength to restart and to believe."

Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has given an account of his first year in charge at Roma in an interview with La Stampa, expressing confidence in the club's current trajectory while cautioning against complacency. Gasperini described his tenure as "an intense first year, with the conviction that the path we have taken is the right one but also with the awareness that we cannot stop here." Gasperini emphasised the need for sustained progress and resilience through inevitable fluctuations. "This is a beautiful period," he said. "But we know very well that we must move forward with continuity, always with great passion and determination. The paths are never straight: there are always cycles, you go up, then you come down. And it is precisely in those moments that you must have the strength to restart and to believe." He stressed that building an important project requires multiple components working in concert: good coaching, quality players, strong staff, and an enthusiastic environment. Gasperini used a vineyard metaphor to illustrate this philosophy of holistic development. "It is a bit like when you work in the vineyards: you must have all these components at your disposal," he explained. His remarks reflect a focus on the personality the squad has developed and the collective effort required to sustain Roma's performance trajectory.

Roma have resumed training at Trigoria following the international break, with Donyell Malen and Wesley working partially with the group. Most players involved with their national teams have returned, with only Manu Koné, Rodrigo Mora, and Argentines Leonardo Balerdi, Matías Soulé and Santiago Castro still away. Gasperini is preparing Roma for a trip to Como while pursuing his 300th Serie A victory. The coach is studying Como's defensive approach, paying particular attention to defender Ramon and Diao, who have the potential to disrupt Roma's rhythm. Como manager Fabregas faces concerns over an injury to Kean, while Argentina midfielder Nico Paz is returning from international duty and will travel with his Giallorossi teammates, which could affect his form. On the squad's commitment, Gasperini confirmed: "Dybala chose to stay."

Rodrigo Mora started for Portugal's Under-21 side in their UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualifier against the Czech Republic on 6 October, playing 74 minutes in a 2–0 victory. The match was the opening fixture of Group B in the qualifying campaign. Mora's international commitment comes as Roma resumed training at Trigoria ahead of their Serie A fixture against Como. The club welcomed back Evan N'Dicka, Gianluca Mancini and Daniele Ghilardi after their own national-team duties.

Rodrigo Mora started for Portugal's Under-21 side in a qualifying match against the Czech Republic on 6 October, with the Lusitanian selection winning 2–0. Portugal's qualification for the next European Under-21 Championship was already assured following their victory against Gibraltar. Goals from Banjaqui and Moreira sealed the win, with Mora playing 74 minutes in midfield as Portugal confirmed top place in Group 2, seven points clear of the Czech Republic. The Roma midfielder was among several club players on international duty during the current international break. Mora's performance contributed to Portugal's commanding position in their qualifying campaign, having already secured progression to the tournament.

Roma's full-backs have become a cornerstone of Gian Piero Gasperini's push to the top of Serie A, a marked shift from last season when they proved problematic. Wesley and Nahuel Molina are now among the club's key strengths, and both will start when Roma resume the league campaign against Como, where they will face manager Fabregas. The turnaround reflects Gasperini's tactical evolution since arriving at the club: in his first season, Wesley was the only defender fully convincing on the flanks, while Zeki Çelik had to make do elsewhere. Now the picture is entirely different. Gasperini has uncovered Emanuele Lulli in the course of the season, and Molina has gradually built his fitness, delivering quality and assists to Roma's attacking phase. For the Como fixture, Gasperini plans to deploy Molina on the right and Wesley on the left. The selection reflects not just Roma's attacking ambitions but also Gasperini's defensive strategy: by using two attacking full-backs, he aims to stretch Como's wide players—Baturina on one flank and Diao on the other—and occupy them throughout the match. Wesley, the more naturally offensive of the pair, will be tasked with driving forward and supporting the build-up play. Molina is likely to carry greater defensive responsibility, balancing his own contributions with the need to contain Como's threats on the wing.

Gian Piero Gasperini will deploy Nahuel Molina and Wesley as twin wingers in Roma's visit to Como, harnessing simultaneous attacking thrust down both flanks to counter Cesc Fabregas's side. With Molina fully recovered and Wesley in continued form, Roma will field two genuine wide operators capable of delivering width, high pressing and chances for the attacking midfielders. The tactical choice targets Como's possession-based play built around Baturina and Diao's unpredictability; Molina and Wesley are instructed to close down Como's wide references and attacking midfielders immediately, forcing them away from build-up play into long balls. In possession, the overlapping runs of Molina and Wesley will create lateral chains with Paulo Dybala and Matías Soulé, opening space for crosses and inside passes. Last season Roma's right wing relied solely on Wesley alongside the converted Zeki Çelik, but the club now possesses one of Serie A's strongest selections of wide midfielders. Gasperini's side has already created thirteen goalscoring actions from wide midfielders this season—second in the league behind Inter's fourteen. Wesley leads with seven goal contributions, followed by Molina on four and eighteen-year-old Emanuele Lulli, an academy product promoted to the first team, who has added two decisive contributions and demonstrates the depth of alternatives available on the flanks. A key feature of Gasperini's system is the tactical flexibility of both players. Wesley and Molina can interchange wings during matches without loss of effectiveness, alternating deep play and crosses with cuts inside on their stronger foot to link with the attacking midfielders. This constant switching prevents opposing defences from finding fixed reference points and allows Roma to vary attacking approaches throughout the game.

Zeki Çelik produced a costly error in Turkey's match against Italy in Bursa, clearing a corner kick directly to Alessandro Bastoni, who opened the scoring for the Azzurri. Italy dominated the fixture in a redemptive performance after losing to Belgium on Friday. Çelik's mistake was immediately seized upon by social media users, with Roma supporters among those criticising the defender's display. One Roma fan wrote: "La spazza Celik" (Çelik the sweeper), while others joked about whether a 'Çelik-cam' video would emerge—a reference to footage released by DAZN following Çelik's first friendly for Juventus. The Turkish international has endured a difficult start to his spell in Serie A, facing criticism not only from Roma fans but also from his country's supporters.

Roma travel to Como for a Serie A encounter on Sunday at 12:30 for matchday six, immediately after the international break. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini is expected to deploy a 3-4-2-1 formation with Mile Svilar in goal, a back three of Gianluca Mancini, Leonardo Balerdi and Mario Hermoso, Nahuel Molina and Wesley on the flanks, and Marten de Roon and Manu Koné in midfield. Paulo Dybala and Lorenzo Pellegrini are set to operate in the attacking third, with Donyell Malen leading the line. Competition for places remains open in several positions: Evan N'Dicka and Balerdi are competing for the third centre-back slot, while Matías Soulé and Rodrigo Mora are battling for a spot in the advanced midfield alongside Pellegrini. The selection is being shaped by ongoing injury concerns across the squad. Roma arrive still near the top of the league table but must recalibrate after two weeks disrupted by international departures. For Gasperini, the priority is assessing the condition of players returning late from their national teams and rotating the squad without sacrificing defensive stability in what is expected to be a challenging away fixture. Como, managed by Cesc Fabregas, will field a 4-2-3-1 setup and attempt to exploit home advantage and their attacking resources. Historically, Roma hold the upper hand in the head-to-head record, with 13 victories compared to Como's 7, and 8 draws across 28 Serie A meetings. The most recent encounter came on 15 March 2026 at the Sinigaglia, where Como won 2-1. Roma took the lead through Donyell Malen's penalty on 7 minutes, but Como reversed the result in the second half with goals from Douvikas and Diego Carlos. The match will be broadcast live on DAZN via smartphone, PC, tablet or the official website. Official lineups will be announced approximately one hour before kick-off.

Gian Piero Gasperini has outlined his ambition to strengthen the relationship between AS Roma and ownership, revealing in a Sky Sport interview that while the Friedkin Group maintains confidence in him despite their infrequent presence in Rome, he wants to build closer ties ahead of the club's 100th anniversary. Gasperini used the occasion to discuss his newly launched wine label "3-4-3", named after his signature formation, and drew parallels between his philosophical approach to football and viticulture. He reflected on last season's success, attributing it to finding "a group of players with enormous willingness towards me" who arrived from a positive spell in the previous campaign and demonstrated eagerness to embrace a different style of football. The manager also highlighted his pride at winning over a fanbase that had initially viewed him with scepticism. Gasperini acknowledged Roma's strength in attack while commenting on the transfer market's difficulty: "Strikers are always the most sought-after and expensive players on the market. Those who have them rarely part with them—it's every team's quest." He expressed satisfaction that Manu Koné remained at the club after late-window interest, stating the timescale made a deal impossible: "The market was long, arriving at just a few hours before closure there was no time. These transfers bring insertions of many people; I don't see how such an operation could have been done. Personally I'm happy. He will have the opportunity, and is already doing so, to increase his value." On Bryan Cristante's recovery from injury, Gasperini counselled patience: "He's recovering; it takes its time. We won't be willing to risk anything. The goal is to recover him at his best even if he misses one or two more matches." Gasperini analysed the expanding squad depth afforded by five substitutions and a congested fixture list: "Four changes are made significantly, one is reserve. Energy expenditure is considerable. Management for coaches is a bit less complicated; you have the chance to use the whole squad better. All players hope to play in more matches. The drawback is injuries, which happen in football always and there's no scientific explanation." Regarding individual attacking players, he noted Matías Soulé had recovered from pubic pain suffered last season: "He trained during summer; when he arrived, logically he was overweight because he'd been out for a long time. His league start was at a high level. Now he's made his Argentina debut. When Roma players go to their national team and play, it's a reward for the whole squad." He praised Paulo Dybala's commitment and happiness since his return to regular action, and explained why he withheld Dybala and Nahuel Molina from international duty given a forthcoming important fixture: "We're too close to an important match. It meant forcing them to do many hours of flying." Gasperini offered measured praise for Como's emergence as title contenders: "We all appreciate this team's evolution. For the quality of the players and the play. Como is justly one of the accredited teams and among the best in our league. Can they win the Scudetto? Everyone recognizes Inter as the strongest, but Como with all the others can compete." He also reflected on Lionel Messi's imminent retirement from international football: "I struggle to think of a player who has done what Messi has done. It's a shame such a player ends his career, but there's also satisfaction in having seen him play—it's been a gift."

Roma head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has decisions to make ahead of the trip to Como, with injuries and international commitments affecting selection in midfield and defence. Matías Soulé, who has been with Argentina, is expected back at Trigoria only on Thursday, opening the door for either Lorenzo Pellegrini or Rodrigo Mora to start alongside Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen in the attacking midfield role. Pellegrini, who has not played since 10 April, is fully fit and ready to return; a start would mark his 350th appearance for Roma. Mora, meanwhile, is currently with the Portugal U21 side and is chasing continuity after scoring an overhead kick against Gibraltar. Gasperini has built a significant strength on Roma's flanks this season—a reversal of last season's problems. The club's wingers have created 24 goal-scoring chances so far: 13 from Wesley, 7 from Nahuel Molina and 4 from Emanuele Lulli, a tally that places Roma second only to Inter. The coach is expected to field Molina on the right and Wesley on the left at Como, with the Brazilian given a more attacking brief and the Argentine tasked with greater defensive responsibility, though Gasperini has signalled he does not regard the flanks as fixed assignments and may shuffle them during the match. Defence has also emerged as a major weapon. Gasperini described Roma's back line as a "difesa di gladiatori" (defence of gladiators), and the numbers back that assessment. Roma lead Serie A with 5.8 recoveries per match in the attacking third and 141 regained possessions in the central areas, generating 17 shots from high-pressure recoveries. The coach has several defensive options in Evan N'Dicka, Gianluca Mancini, Leonardo Balerdi, Mario Hermoso, Daniele Ghilardi and Konstantinos Koulierakis. N'Dicka could return to the starting line-up at Como in place of Balerdi, who is still with Argentina and due back at Trigoria later. Gasperini's defensive philosophy is encapsulated in one of his favourite sayings: "Si difende in 11, si attacca in 11"—defence involves all eleven, as does attack.