Gasperini on Roma's second-half struggles: perhaps we were presumptuous

Roma head into their next Serie A fixture against Sassuolo at the Stadio Olimpico, and several radio pundits on Radio Radio have weighed in on the match, the squad and the aftermath of the Manchester defeat. Carina said Sassuolo are a side in difficulty, having conceded four goals per game recently, but warned that Roma arrive tired, including mentally, because the blow of Manchester was heavy. He said returning to the Olimpico helps, since the level in Serie A allows a little dip in form. "The aim is to string together a run of wins over the next four matches, so you reach the derby in a high position," Carina said. On the Inter–Como fixture, he added: "Any positive result is fine: it is a round Roma must know how to steer in the right direction." Carina also raised concerns about Paulo Dybala's fitness. "With Dybala you never really understand the recovery times: first they talk about muscle fatigue, then a small tear, then he disappears from the radar. He is a sublime, fantastic player, but now he becomes a problem: between Dybala and Pellegrini, if you have one, that is already a lot. So the squad becomes short: if you want to be a protagonist in the league, you are missing players." He also said he expected Santiago Castro to play more, adding: "He had given a signal with the wonderful goal against Genoa, but he must give continuity, despite the difficulties, because playing once in a while is complicated." Giuseppe Pruzzo, speaking on Radio Radio, said: "After Manchester, we must restart immediately. Sassuolo in their last two matches have conceded ten goals; the worrying thing is that they show no signs and do not react. This allows Roma to manage the match and try to create danger up front." He added that Donyell Malen has the occasional lapse, and that Castro never plays, asking whether there would be room for him this time. Mattioli, also on Radio Radio, described Sassuolo as a side on a rollercoaster, capable of collapsing or producing a big performance. He said: "Roma, in my opinion, are not at their best moment. At Manchester I saw some errors in the game. I don't know if it is tiredness, which can happen, or some players below their level. If Sassuolo do not change gear, they will not leave the Olimpico in good shape. Roma can win." Orsi argued that Roma are too dependent on Malen and Dybala, noting that Malen scored a lot when the two played together but now struggles more, while Dybala may not score but always provides assists.

Roman radio pundits have offered their views on Roma's upcoming match against Sassuolo, with debate centring on Manu Koné's possible international call-up, goalkeeper Pierluigi Gollini's fitness and Paulo Dybala's form. Piero Torri (Manà Manà Sport - 90.9) said: "There is something about Konè we don't know: does he want to go to the national team or not? Because if he wants to go to the national team, he is pushing... Personally, I would not send him to risk it, also because France play two real matches, one against Italy. Konè knows he has strong competition in his role in the national team, but Roma are paying for it. Because if he gets injured again we are back to square one, and we cannot allow that." Lorenzo Pes (Tele Radio Stereo - 92.7) took a more measured view: "Konè is fine and in my opinion the call-up can be justified. If they choose caution and avoid both Sassuolo and France, that would be the right choice. The final word rests with Roma: if Roma want to take the cautious route, he is unlikely to be called up and go to the national team. Konè, however, is not disinterested in the national team. On one side Roma would like to keep him, on the other there is evidence the player has recovered. We will see, let us wait for today, which should be the crucial one." On Gollini, Pes added: "Is he likely to be available tomorrow? Unlikely. He will try until the end, but until yesterday it was very complicated. So I think Vásquez will play, but I don't see that much difference." Mario Mattioli (Radio Radio Mattino - 104.5) assessed both sides' form: "Given how Sassuolo are built, the rollercoaster is normal. They could also wake up. In my view, Roma are not going through one of their most brilliant spells either. I have seen some slips, and I don't know whether they come from a tiredness that is understandable or from something else. It doesn't seem to me like the Roma of three weeks ago. If Sassuolo pick themselves up, they can cause difficulties. But I believe Roma must and can win it, not comfortably, but they can do it." On Dybala, Mattioli asked: "I wonder if the problem is diet. Are we sure he isn't eating something that affects his muscle tissue?" Roberto Pruzzo (Radio Radio Mattino - 104.5) said: "Roma need to get going again immediately after the disappointment of Manchester. Sassuolo are clearly in difficulty, starting with Aquilani. The Neroverdi are no longer showing any signs. This should allow Roma to manage the game or at least control it in the best possible way. Castro is a player I back, but apart from that great goal he almost never plays: who knows, perhaps there could be room for him too." Nando Orsi (Radio Radio Mattino - 104.5) questioned Roma's reliance on their attack: "Isn't Roma a bit too dependent on Dybala and Malen? When Dybala was there, Malen scored a lot of goals. Today, though, he seems to be struggling a bit. If he doesn't score, they need an alternative. Dybala won't score, but he makes assists. On Dybala, perhaps Gasperini's management was wrong, this idea of having him play ninety minutes every time to prove what..."

Roma return to Serie A action at the Stadio Olimpico against Sassuolo, the ninth match after the September international break and a fixture the club will approach with its unbeaten domestic run intact. Gasperini's side are in form in the league, and the games that matter most for the squad come after the next break. Il Messaggero's Alessandro Angeloni described the team's strength as clearest when viewed through two lenses: league football and home matches. Since Gasperini took charge, the club has been a steamroller in Serie A. Last season he won seven of the final nine league games, five of them in the last five, to reach third place. Roma have not lost a league match since last April. The heavy 5-0 defeat at Inter in Milan was a turning point, after which the team began to surge. At home, a league defeat has not occurred since the night against Napoli, and the last home league loss came on 30 November, almost a year ago. Attention now turns to the period after the Christmas break. The squad, according to the article, is not quite adequate for the two major fronts of Serie A and the Champions League, not so much in quality as in numbers, and the club will need the ownership to intervene to strengthen it. Physical problems have forced Gasperini to cope with a long run of injuries, and the recurring emergency is expected to end eventually. Before that, Roma must get past Sassuolo.

Gian Piero Gasperini is set to start Matías Soulé, Rodrigo Mora and Donyell Malen together in attack for Roma's home match against Sassuolo at the Stadio Olimpico tomorrow evening. Roma have been hit by a long run of absences, with Svilar, Gollini, Rensch, Koné, Cristante, Dybala and Pellegrini all missing at least one match across Serie A and the Champions League since the international break at the end of September and beginning of October. The fixture is the ninth game in 27 days for Roma. In midfield, Marten de Roon has stood out, and he is set to start his ninth match in a row tomorrow night. The attack has been the most reshuffled part of the side, but beyond Malen's consistency, Gasperini has been encouraged by the rapid growth of Soulé and the flashes of quality from the young Mora. The trio are starting for the third game in a row in the space of a week. Roma's latest run has been mixed. In Udine, Roma won with a fiery performance at the Bluenergy Stadium, and they had the game wrapped up by the 37th minute before fading after the break. In the first half, Soulé, Mora and Malen dominated. Soulé provided assists for Malen and for a header by N'Dicka, while Mora scored the goal that made it 2-0 after Cristante's pass. Malen, with his eighth league goal of the season, continued his record-breaking form in the Roma shirt. At Old Trafford, the pattern repeated itself in the opening 45 minutes. Mora's fantastic pass set up Soulé for the 1-0, and Soulé then won a penalty that Malen converted for 2-0. At half-time Mora was substituted, Roma dropped deeper, and Manchester United staged a stunning and painful comeback. Sassuolo arrive with the worst defence in Serie A, having conceded 26 goals in 10 matches, including 12 in their last three games, played between Saturday 24 October and Monday 2 November. Mati, Rodrigo and Donyell are ready to shine again against them, with the aim of finishing this part of the season well. The article's author sums up the mood: the appetite comes with eating, and tomorrow night Roma have every condition to serve up a good dish.

Roma must put the sting of their Champions League defeat to Manchester United behind them and refocus on Serie A, when Sassuolo visit the Stadio Olimpico on Saturday. Sassuolo are coached by Aquilani, a former Roma player, and are in serious difficulty, although they had impressed earlier in the season with their football and individual quality. It is a test that should not be taken lightly for Gian Piero Gasperini's side. Roma have closed the gap on Inter, moving to within one point of them, but they are four points behind league leaders Lazio. Roma remain without Svilar, Dybala and Koné, as well as Rensch and Pellegrini. Sassuolo will be missing Volpato, Koné, Boloca and Leysen. The match is available to watch on Sky and Dazn, with kickoff time and probable line-ups also confirmed in the build-up to the fixture.

Roma head into their next Serie A fixture against Sassuolo at the Stadio Olimpico, and several radio pundits on Radio Radio have weighed in on the match, the squad and the aftermath of the Manchester defeat. Carina said Sassuolo are a side in difficulty, having conceded four goals per game recently, but warned that Roma arrive tired, including mentally, because the blow of Manchester was heavy. He said returning to the Olimpico helps, since the level in Serie A allows a little dip in form. "The aim is to string together a run of wins over the next four matches, so you reach the derby in a high position," Carina said. On the Inter–Como fixture, he added: "Any positive result is fine: it is a round Roma must know how to steer in the right direction." Carina also raised concerns about Paulo Dybala's fitness. "With Dybala you never really understand the recovery times: first they talk about muscle fatigue, then a small tear, then he disappears from the radar. He is a sublime, fantastic player, but now he becomes a problem: between Dybala and Pellegrini, if you have one, that is already a lot. So the squad becomes short: if you want to be a protagonist in the league, you are missing players." He also said he expected Santiago Castro to play more, adding: "He had given a signal with the wonderful goal against Genoa, but he must give continuity, despite the difficulties, because playing once in a while is complicated." Giuseppe Pruzzo, speaking on Radio Radio, said: "After Manchester, we must restart immediately. Sassuolo in their last two matches have conceded ten goals; the worrying thing is that they show no signs and do not react. This allows Roma to manage the match and try to create danger up front." He added that Donyell Malen has the occasional lapse, and that Castro never plays, asking whether there would be room for him this time. Mattioli, also on Radio Radio, described Sassuolo as a side on a rollercoaster, capable of collapsing or producing a big performance. He said: "Roma, in my opinion, are not at their best moment. At Manchester I saw some errors in the game. I don't know if it is tiredness, which can happen, or some players below their level. If Sassuolo do not change gear, they will not leave the Olimpico in good shape. Roma can win." Orsi argued that Roma are too dependent on Malen and Dybala, noting that Malen scored a lot when the two played together but now struggles more, while Dybala may not score but always provides assists.