Gasperini praises Dybala as Roma's standout performer

Rodrigo Mora came off the bench in Roma's Champions League opener away at Fenerbahçe and spoke positively about the team's display despite the draw. A single point was not the outcome Roma sought, but Mora felt the performance on a difficult pitch in a demanding atmosphere represented a solid start to the competition. He acknowledged that Roma needed to be more clinical in response to Fenerbahçe's attacking pressure. Mora reflected on the team's concentration levels and drew a parallel to their recent Serie A match against Atalanta. "I think it's normal that in a match there are better phases and worse phases. What matters is the reaction, both with Atalanta and today it was seen, and we must try to maintain the level for all 90 minutes," he said. He emphasized the importance of consistency across the full duration of fixtures going forward. The midfielder also spoke of the significance of representing Roma in European football. "The dream of any footballer is to play in the Champions League. I'm very happy to have done it today with Roma's shirt," Mora reflected on his first night in the competition for the club.

Gian Piero Gasperini praised Roma's performance in a draw against Fenerbahce, but identified defensive vulnerabilities in the second half as an area requiring urgent attention. The head coach said the team produced a good display in difficult circumstances, playing against opponents who sat deep and looked to break on the counter-attack. Gasperini acknowledged Roma conceded from a poor exit when deployed low on the pitch. "We came out badly for the goal. It happens when we are deep and set. We certainly need to work because we cannot always play high, especially in the Champions League. There was a wrong exit," he said. He was satisfied with the impact of substitutes, singling out Leonardo Balerdi and Niccolò Pisilli for particular praise. Rodrigo Mora, introduced in midfield, struggled to make the anticipated impact despite his pace. Marten de Roon was brought on late to secure the result. When asked about Roma's recurring problem of conceding at the start of the second half, Gasperini said: "Two clues make a proof, but not everything is explainable; sometimes there is chance. From next time we must be careful at the start of the second half."

Mile Svilar spoke to reporters after Roma's 1–1 draw with Fenerbahçe at the Şükrü Saraçoğlu stadium in Istanbul, Roma's opening match in the 2026–27 UEFA Champions League. The goalkeeper reflected on a one-on-one save he made early in the contest, saying he read the shot and stopped it with his feet. On the goal he conceded, he explained: "I tried to do the same thing but I wasn't able to stay high." He acknowledged the intensity of Champions League football, noting that both sides created chances. Svilar assessed the draw positively in the context of Roma's overall performance. "We were better in our play. The draw is not bad, but with our football, as we've shown in the league, I think we'll be able to earn more points," he said.

Rodrigo Mora analysed Roma's 1–1 draw away at Fenerbahce on 8 September, saying the team were satisfied with their overall performance but must improve their consistency throughout matches. The Portuguese midfielder's comments came after a Champions League league-phase fixture in which Roma conceded a goal despite competitive play. Roma's display drew mixed reactions from the backroom staff. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini acknowledged defensive vulnerabilities, noting "at times we are vulnerable, we must be more careful", while highlighting Paulo Dybala's contribution as "extraordinary". The team also dealt with an injury concern when midfielder Manu Koné departed the pitch during the match; Gasperini confirmed he came off for a physical problem. Defender Evan N'Dicka also reflected on the result, stating: "Positive performance, we deserved more. But we take this point." Despite the defensive issues that emerged, Roma had competitive moments throughout the fixture and secured a point away from home in the opening phase of their European campaign.

Roma drew 1–1 with Fenerbahçe in their first Champions League match in seven years, played in Istanbul on 8 September 2026. Bryan Cristante opened the scoring in the first half with an assist from the Dybala-Malen axis, with Cristante notable as the sole survivor from Roma's last Champions League outing—the Porto match in 2019. Brown equalised for Fenerbahçe in the second half, and late pressure saw Akè hit the crossbar. Mile Svilar made crucial saves to secure the point. Gasperini's side controlled the opening 45 minutes with tactical maturity and patient possession, demonstrating awareness of their strengths without forcing play. The second half exposed the demands of the competition as Fenerbahçe, driven by their home crowd and chasing their first Champions League appearance since 2009, raised their intensity. Roma conceded ground but held firm defensively. The result leaves Gasperini with a lesson: the first-half display represents the standard required to compete at this level, while the second-half vulnerability to an opponent's pressure illustrates the growth still needed. The point earned away from home represents a significant restart for Roma's European ambitions. Gasperini must rebuild from the first 45 minutes in Istanbul—that performance, he indicated, is the template for Roma's Champions League path. The fixture list offers no respite: Roma's next continental match will see Real Madrid, managed by former Roma boss José Mourinho, visit the Olimpico.

Roma drew 1–1 at Fenerbahçe in the opening match of the UEFA Champions League League Phase on 10 September, marking the club's return to Europe's elite competition after seven years away. Speaking after the match at the Şükrü Saracoğlu, head coach Gian Piero Gasperini defended the result despite conceding early in the second half. "We played a good match, it wasn't easy here against a team that closed down and hit on the break," Gasperini said. "A draw that serves the table came out in the end." He acknowledged the defensive vulnerability that cost Roma a goal. "We came out poorly on the goal—it happens when we're deep and set. We certainly need to work because you can't always play high, especially in the Champions League. There was a wrong exit." Gasperini praised the substitutes' contributions, highlighting Leonardo Balerdi and Niccolò Pisilli as particularly effective after coming on, though he noted that Rodrigo Mora, who entered midfield, struggled to create problems at the edge of the area. Marten de Roon was brought on late to secure the result. Fenerbahçe deployed a notably defensive setup that Gasperini described as extreme: "The Fenerbahçe played a defensive match like I'd never seen. They're a dangerous team in speed and we accepted that risk." Roma conceded in the opening moments of the second half, a recurring problem that prompted Gasperini to acknowledge a pattern: "Two clues make proof, but not everything is explainable—sometimes there's chance. From next time we need to be careful at the start of the second half." However, he was emphatic about the significance of the point. "These are difficult away grounds. Maybe it would have gone differently at home, the same at Athens. You have to understand the difficulty of playing these matches. Fenerbahçe has strong players. They were compact—usually in these grounds it ends badly, especially for Italian teams in recent years. We could have lost it but there were also moments where we could have won it. Roma played with great personality on a difficult field, played it openly. The Champions League is difficult against anyone." Gasperini singled out Paulo Dybala for exceptional performance: "Dybala was extraordinary for continuity and quality. I struggle to remember the balls he lost, then he had cramps and probably wasn't the only one. He among many strong players is the strongest." On the tactical approach, he rejected the suggestion that Roma's setup was built merely to draw, noting that the three-point system has reshaped football's imperatives: "The advent of three points changed football and the need to win matches is high. Being able to always hope to win every match is a positive thing." Gasperini also explained Devyne Rensch's selection: "Rensch played because in training he played well." Manu Koné was withdrawn at half-time owing to a physical problem. Gasperini indicated the team would learn from the experience: "Between making ten and making eleven there's a difference"—underlining how the league-phase format rewards consistency.