Gasperini praises squad availability as Roma head to Manchester after Udinese win

Evan Ndicka said Roma eased off after going 4-0 up at half-time in their 10th-round Serie A win at Udinese, but were pleased to secure the three points at the Bluenergy Stadium. The defender spoke to reporters after the match, which Roma dominated in the first half before failing to sustain the same level after the interval. Asked what went wrong in the second half and how important the three points were, Ndicka said: "Obviously, when you close the first half winning 4-0, considering also the many matches we are playing, I don't want to say we already have our minds on the next games, but we dropped the pace a little. In the end, though, we won, and that is the most important thing." The result keeps Roma's campaign moving through a demanding run of fixtures, with the squad facing a crowded calendar. Ndicka was also asked about scoring in Udine and what it meant to close a circle after what happened there two years ago. He replied: "Yes, a circle is closing. I am very happy with my goal in Udine, also because of what happened, but above all I am happy for the team and for these three points." His remarks put the emphasis on collective success over personal milestones, with the victory the key takeaway for a Roma side that took a commanding lead before the break.

Bryan Cristante has said Roma must stay near the top of Serie A for as long as possible after a 3-0 win...

Bryan Cristante has said it is important for Roma to win in order to build continuity, after the club beat Cagliari in their Serie A ninth-round fixture. Speaking after the match, the Roma midfielder played down the concerns raised by the performance, insisting the team had not conceded much. Roma conceded a goal from a deflection and one from a set piece in the second half. Cristante said the side must nonetheless be more concentrated and that the result was acceptable as the team moves on. Asked whether the team can sustain this run until the end of the season, he said: "We're trying. It's hard, there are many matches and many strong teams, but clearly if we play like this we can make it. As long as we're in it, we'll do everything to stay in it." On the team's attacking options, Cristante said Roma are scoring and creating plenty of chances. "Obviously, the more goals you score, the easier it is to win. If we keep going like this, that's better." Roma now travel to Manchester United, and Cristante described the trip as a difficult one. "It's always Manchester United, a strong team with many good players. It will be very difficult at their place because they will want to do well and bounce back. We're going there and we'll try to bring home the result, as we always do."

Roma have scored 28 goals in their first ten matches of the 2026-27 season, a club record, after a 5-3 win at Udinese. The tally surpasses the previous record of 26 goals, set in 1960/61 and 2016/17, and the goals have come from a wide spread of players rather than relying on Donyell Malen, although he is leading the side. Under Gian Piero Gasperini, Roma have become a side that is always dangerous and always able to finish, with many matches won by at least four goals across Serie A and the Champions League. Roma have scored with 14 different players so far: Malen, Niccolò Pisilli, Manu Koné, Matías Soulé, Mario Hermoso, Emanuele Lulli, Rodrigo Mora, Bryan Cristante, Marten de Roon, Santiago Castro, Nahuel Molina and Leonardo Balerdi. Evan N'Dicka and Daniele Ghilardi also scored against Udinese and join that list. The results are reflected in the table: 24 points from ten matches, the club's best start since 2013. Last season Roma had 21 points at this stage, and two seasons ago they had just 13. To find similar numbers, you have to go back to 2022, when Mourinho reached 22 points. The Udinese victory was not simply a big win but proof of a team that scores with a consistency never seen before at the club. The 28 goals in the opening ten rounds represent a milestone the club had never reached, and the tally was built across Serie A and the Champions League alike.

Roma defender Daniele Ghilardi has spoken about scoring his first Serie A goal, in the win over Udinese, and said the squad is full of players who all feel like starters under Gian Piero Gasperini. Speaking to Dazn after the match, Ghilardi described the moment: "Yes, it's my first goal in Serie A. I'm very happy. I struck it with all the strength I had. It was the end of the match, I had cramp in my calves. I was dead, I was stretching and they didn't see me." Asked whether he celebrated better than Emanuele Lulli, he laughed off the comparison: "Emanuele wasn't used to it, I've scored 2 in B and 1 in C. Few, but something. I'm very happy. It took me more than two seasons to do it, and I'm glad." Ghilardi also explained how Gasperini's attacking style helps defenders get forward. "We're used to getting into the box and playing in the penalty area. The coach says all of us have the quality to score or assist, and we work on it a lot in training. I think it shows." He has scored one goal and provided two assists in 10 days, and has only one assist in his career before this run. Asked when that was, he recalled: "A Mantova-Vicenza, with a goal by Padella. I remember it very well." Asked whether everyone in the Roma squad is really a starter, Ghilardi replied: "Yes, we're really all starters and it shows. Everyone has played and each of us has had his own minutes, doing what he had to do. We're having a great season and we'll keep going like this. There are many matches and we need everyone."

Gian Piero Gasperini spoke to Dazn after Roma's win over Udinese, a result built on a 4-0 scoreline and a flood of goals from many different players. Asked how the team are scoring so freely, the coach said: "The numbers sometimes count and say something. We are scoring a lot of goals with lots of different players. It is a sign of the confidence of many players, who believe they can be decisive with the assist and the finish. We are scoring more goals with more players, and this is a great signal." Roma eased off in the second half after a dominant first half full of chances, and Gasperini was asked whether the team must take a step up to challenge for the top positions and the Scudetto. He replied: "I don't know. Even those fighting for the top positions have some little problems. It is also fairly normal after a 4-0. At half-time we had told each other to be careful and not to concede. Three days from now we play in Manchester, and this was our eighth match in less than twenty days. A bit of attention and concentration goes missing. We conceded a goal from distance, an ugly goal, a sign of carelessness. But as soon as we had the chance to speed up, we could still be dangerous." On the young defenders Lulli and Ghilardi, who have been performing impressively, Gasperini credited the group spirit: "I am fortunate to have all the players, including the less young ones, who give great availability. Young players usually always give it, they want to emerge and improve. I am lucky to have a group that is a fantastic mix. We may have other faults, but the availability is total." He added that Ghilardi had been fairly angry in the Champions League against Slovan Bratislava, when a fine goal was disallowed, and that he wanted to score, and this evening he scored a superb goal. Asked whether this is the toughest moment to be a coach in Italy, Gasperini said: "A period this long, with matches three times a week, I struggle to remember. It has happened to me at other times, like with Atalanta when we won the Europa League and were still in the Coppa Italia. We went deep in every competition, but that was March-April. This is a period I do not remember like this. There is a lot of fatigue because you go out to play matches that are always high level and difficult. After the next international break, although the fixtures will continue to be many, it will be a little less." He noted that Svilar, Koné, Dybala and Pellegrini have been absent, and said rotating the squad has helped with minutes. Asked whether anyone could return before the break, excluding Pellegrini, he said: "Difficult. I hope so. In theory all three, but it could also be no one. We'll see this week, it will be decisive."

Roma have scored 28 goals in their first ten matches of the 2026-27 season, a club record, after a 5-3 win at Udinese. The tally surpasses the previous record of 26 goals, set in 1960/61 and 2016/17, and the goals have come from a wide spread of players rather than relying on Donyell Malen, although he is leading the side. Under Gian Piero Gasperini, Roma have become a side that is always dangerous and always able to finish, with many matches won by at least four goals across Serie A and the Champions League. Roma have scored with 14 different players so far: Malen, Niccolò Pisilli, Manu Koné, Matías Soulé, Mario Hermoso, Emanuele Lulli, Rodrigo Mora, Bryan Cristante, Marten de Roon, Santiago Castro, Nahuel Molina and Leonardo Balerdi. Evan N'Dicka and Daniele Ghilardi also scored against Udinese and join that list. The results are reflected in the table: 24 points from ten matches, the club's best start since 2013. Last season Roma had 21 points at this stage, and two seasons ago they had just 13. To find similar numbers, you have to go back to 2022, when Mourinho reached 22 points. The Udinese victory was not simply a big win but proof of a team that scores with a consistency never seen before at the club. The 28 goals in the opening ten rounds represent a milestone the club had never reached, and the tally was built across Serie A and the Champions League alike.

Roma eased to a 5-2 win over Udinese, moving to within one point of Inter and Lazio in the table, pending those sides' matches. Five different players scored. Bryan Cristante opened the scoring with a header and then set up Rodrigo Mora's goal to make it 2-0. Donyell Malen completed the hat-trick for 3-0 before Evan N'Dicka made it 4-0 in the 37th minute. Udinese, coached by Runjaic, came back into the game after the break. Zaniolo, the former Roma player, pulled one back, and Palma added a second to make it 4-2. Ghilardi sealed the result late on with the fifth Roma goal. Roma's player ratings: Rodrigo Mora and Malen (7) scored again, Cristante (8) was on the scoresheet with a goal and an assist, and Okoye was given a 4.5.

Gian Piero Gasperini said Roma's goal tally from many different scorers is a "great signal" after his side beat Udinese 4-0 in the tenth round of Serie A at the Bluenergy Stadium. Roma have scored 28 goals in ten matches, a striking change from last season, and Malen is not the only source of their threat. "The numbers sometimes count and say something. Certainly, as well as scoring many goals, we are scoring them with many different players. This is also a sign of confidence, of many players who now believe they can be decisive, both in the assist, as in this case, and in the finish. So we are scoring more goals and with more players. This is a great signal." Roma led 4-0 at half-time, but the second half saw them ease off, particularly in offensive intensity. Gasperini said the drop was understandable: "I don't know, because even the teams fighting for the top positions have some small problems. I have to say it is quite normal. When you go 4-0 up, although at half-time we told each other to be very careful, keep defending well and not conceding, it is clear something can drop. We play in Manchester in three days, we are playing a lot. This was our eighth match in less than twenty days. So what is lacking is not so much physical strength as a little attention and concentration. Then we conceded a goal from distance that reopened the game a little. It was a bad goal, because we were set up and that is exactly the sign of having switched off mentally. We would never have conceded a goal like that. But it is also true that as soon as we had the chance to accelerate, we could still be dangerous." Asked about the impressive performances of Roma's young players, and Ghilardi's goal, Gasperini credited the group's attitude: "I have the good fortune of having all the players, even the less young ones, who give me great availability. With young players there is always this availability, because they want to emerge and improve. I am lucky to have a group with a fantastic mix. We may have other kinds of faults, but in terms of availability it is total." He added: "Ghilardi, moreover, was quite angry because recently a goal was disallowed for him in the Champions League against Slovan, a really beautiful goal. That desire to score stayed inside him and tonight he scored a beautiful goal." On the physical demands of the calendar, Gasperini said: "A period this long, with this continuity of matches three times a week, I struggle to remember. It has happened to me at other times, for example with Atalanta in the year we won the Europa League. We had reached the final of the Coppa Italia too and were fighting for the Champions League in the league. But that was March-April, a different period. A situation like this I do not remember. There is certainly a lot of fatigue, because the matches you go to play are all high-level and very difficult. I think after the next break, although the commitments will continue to be many, the situation will be a little less heavy. Especially for us, who for almost all of this period have had the absences of Svilar, Koné, Dybala and Pellegrini. Being able to rotate the squad, get everyone playing and distribute minutes is certainly helping us." Asked whether any of the injured players could return before the break, Gasperini said: "It is difficult, but I hope so. In theory all three could recover, but it could also be that none of them do. We will see, this will be a decisive week." On Cristante, who was outstanding, Gasperini said: "The pre-season preparation has stayed the same. What varies a little is the reading of individual players, we also work individually. It is difficult to train Mora the same as Mancini or N'Dicka, we have our own parameters and reads, and we work a lot on the players, that yes. There is a lot of individualised work. Honestly, I remember Cristante like this." He explained that Cristante had been out for a month with a knee injury that affected the collateral ligament, adding: "He has played three games in a row after a month out, a bit like De Roon, the more he plays the better he gets. He recovers quickly and that is a good sign." Gasperini also reflected on the season so far: "You can never know beforehand what will happen. I have a group that is hungry to improve and sets team goals to get better, we are not thinking about anything grand. Tactical work we do not have much time for, we learn during matches. By playing we have undoubtedly grown, and we have great confidence in the whole squad. Using everyone also helps, so everyone is ready." On the attacking play, he said: "I see myself in all the concepts of play. There were also goals of fine quality, N'Dicka scoring with a header from a corner, and all the others were fine assists with equally fine goals. Right now everyone is in confidence, when we get there there is aggression from everyone." Roma return to Manchester in three days' time, with Gasperini's side facing a demanding run of matches before the international break.

Gian Piero Gasperini said Roma's goal tally from many different scorers is a "great signal" after his side beat Udinese 4-0 in the tenth round of Serie A at the Bluenergy Stadium. Roma have scored 28 goals in ten matches, a striking change from last season, and Malen is not the only source of their threat. "The numbers sometimes count and say something. Certainly, as well as scoring many goals, we are scoring them with many different players. This is also a sign of confidence, of many players who now believe they can be decisive, both in the assist, as in this case, and in the finish. So we are scoring more goals and with more players. This is a great signal." Roma led 4-0 at half-time, but the second half saw them ease off, particularly in offensive intensity. Gasperini said the drop was understandable: "I don't know, because even the teams fighting for the top positions have some small problems. I have to say it is quite normal. When you go 4-0 up, although at half-time we told each other to be very careful, keep defending well and not conceding, it is clear something can drop. We play in Manchester in three days, we are playing a lot. This was our eighth match in less than twenty days. So what is lacking is not so much physical strength as a little attention and concentration. Then we conceded a goal from distance that reopened the game a little. It was a bad goal, because we were set up and that is exactly the sign of having switched off mentally. We would never have conceded a goal like that. But it is also true that as soon as we had the chance to accelerate, we could still be dangerous." Asked about the impressive performances of Roma's young players, and Ghilardi's goal, Gasperini credited the group's attitude: "I have the good fortune of having all the players, even the less young ones, who give me great availability. With young players there is always this availability, because they want to emerge and improve. I am lucky to have a group with a fantastic mix. We may have other kinds of faults, but in terms of availability it is total." He added: "Ghilardi, moreover, was quite angry because recently a goal was disallowed for him in the Champions League against Slovan, a really beautiful goal. That desire to score stayed inside him and tonight he scored a beautiful goal." On the physical demands of the calendar, Gasperini said: "A period this long, with this continuity of matches three times a week, I struggle to remember. It has happened to me at other times, for example with Atalanta in the year we won the Europa League. We had reached the final of the Coppa Italia too and were fighting for the Champions League in the league. But that was March-April, a different period. A situation like this I do not remember. There is certainly a lot of fatigue, because the matches you go to play are all high-level and very difficult. I think after the next break, although the commitments will continue to be many, the situation will be a little less heavy. Especially for us, who for almost all of this period have had the absences of Svilar, Koné, Dybala and Pellegrini. Being able to rotate the squad, get everyone playing and distribute minutes is certainly helping us." Asked whether any of the injured players could return before the break, Gasperini said: "It is difficult, but I hope so. In theory all three could recover, but it could also be that none of them do. We will see, this will be a decisive week." On Cristante, who was outstanding, Gasperini said: "The pre-season preparation has stayed the same. What varies a little is the reading of individual players, we also work individually. It is difficult to train Mora the same as Mancini or N'Dicka, we have our own parameters and reads, and we work a lot on the players, that yes. There is a lot of individualised work. Honestly, I remember Cristante like this." He explained that Cristante had been out for a month with a knee injury that affected the collateral ligament, adding: "He has played three games in a row after a month out, a bit like De Roon, the more he plays the better he gets. He recovers quickly and that is a good sign." Gasperini also reflected on the season so far: "You can never know beforehand what will happen. I have a group that is hungry to improve and sets team goals to get better, we are not thinking about anything grand. Tactical work we do not have much time for, we learn during matches. By playing we have undoubtedly grown, and we have great confidence in the whole squad. Using everyone also helps, so everyone is ready." On the attacking play, he said: "I see myself in all the concepts of play. There were also goals of fine quality, N'Dicka scoring with a header from a corner, and all the others were fine assists with equally fine goals. Right now everyone is in confidence, when we get there there is aggression from everyone." Roma return to Manchester in three days' time, with Gasperini's side facing a demanding run of matches before the international break.

Gian Piero Gasperini spoke to Dazn after Roma's win over Udinese, a result built on a 4-0 scoreline and a flood of goals from many different players. Asked how the team are scoring so freely, the coach said: "The numbers sometimes count and say something. We are scoring a lot of goals with lots of different players. It is a sign of the confidence of many players, who believe they can be decisive with the assist and the finish. We are scoring more goals with more players, and this is a great signal." Roma eased off in the second half after a dominant first half full of chances, and Gasperini was asked whether the team must take a step up to challenge for the top positions and the Scudetto. He replied: "I don't know. Even those fighting for the top positions have some little problems. It is also fairly normal after a 4-0. At half-time we had told each other to be careful and not to concede. Three days from now we play in Manchester, and this was our eighth match in less than twenty days. A bit of attention and concentration goes missing. We conceded a goal from distance, an ugly goal, a sign of carelessness. But as soon as we had the chance to speed up, we could still be dangerous." On the young defenders Lulli and Ghilardi, who have been performing impressively, Gasperini credited the group spirit: "I am fortunate to have all the players, including the less young ones, who give great availability. Young players usually always give it, they want to emerge and improve. I am lucky to have a group that is a fantastic mix. We may have other faults, but the availability is total." He added that Ghilardi had been fairly angry in the Champions League against Slovan Bratislava, when a fine goal was disallowed, and that he wanted to score, and this evening he scored a superb goal. Asked whether this is the toughest moment to be a coach in Italy, Gasperini said: "A period this long, with matches three times a week, I struggle to remember. It has happened to me at other times, like with Atalanta when we won the Europa League and were still in the Coppa Italia. We went deep in every competition, but that was March-April. This is a period I do not remember like this. There is a lot of fatigue because you go out to play matches that are always high level and difficult. After the next international break, although the fixtures will continue to be many, it will be a little less." He noted that Svilar, Koné, Dybala and Pellegrini have been absent, and said rotating the squad has helped with minutes. Asked whether anyone could return before the break, excluding Pellegrini, he said: "Difficult. I hope so. In theory all three, but it could also be no one. We'll see this week, it will be decisive."

Roma produced an emphatic 5-2 away win over Udinese in Serie A's tenth round, with Cristante, Mora, Malen and N'Dicka all on the scoresheet before the interval. Gian Piero Gasperini's side led 4-0 at half-time, and Zaniolo and Palma pulled a goal back each for the hosts before Ghilardi settled the match late on. Roma arrived in Friuli still unbeaten in the league and looking to build on their midweek win over Cagliari, while Udinese, under Kosta Runjaic, were chasing a victory they had not managed since late August. Roma were without Mile Svilar, Manu Koné, Lorenzo Pellegrini and Paulo Dybala, and Gasperini made several changes to the side that beat Cagliari, bringing Ghilardi into defence and handing Rodrigo Mora a start alongside Matías Soulé behind Donyell Malen. The match was refereed by Maresca of Napoli, with Lo Cicero and Rossi as assistants, Chiffi as fourth official, and Paterna on VAR assisted by Aureliano. The early tempo was all Roma's. Cristante opened the scoring in the 10th minute, heading home a cross from Wesley with a powerful jump that beat Okoye. Roma kept pressing, and Mora doubled the lead in the 30th minute, finishing with his right foot after a fine assist from Cristante, who was in dominant form. Malen made it three in the 33rd minute, controlling the ball in the box, dribbling to open up space and placing a left-footed shot into the corner. N'Dicka headed in the fourth in the 37th minute from a corner by Soulé, which Okoye could not stop. Roma also struck the woodwork twice in the first half, with Soulé hitting the post and Malen hitting the crossbar after Okoye had saved his first effort. Udinese showed more intent after the break, and Zaniolo reduced the deficit in the 50th minute. Miller's long-range drive was parried by Gollini, and Zaniolo followed up to score from the rebound. Gasperini responded by taking off Mora and Malen in the 59th minute, bringing on Niccolò Pisilli and Santiago Castro, and Roma's changes continued with Wesley and Soulé making way for Nahuel Molina's replacements in the 79th minute. Palma restored some hope for Udinese in the 78th minute, heading in from close range after getting in front of the Roma defence, and Udinese continued to push, with a left-footed strike from Unai Gomez flashing narrowly wide in the 84th minute. Ghilardi finished the match off in the closing minutes, striking a powerful right-footed shot under the crossbar after an assist from Castro, to make it 5-2. Cristante was also booked for a reckless arm in the 60th minute, and Roma were content to manage the game and protect their advantage in the final stages. The result leaves Roma with three important points before a run of meetings that the report describes as decisive in the coming hours. Gasperini's side will look to carry this attacking form into those fixtures, while Udinese face the task of rebuilding after a heavy defeat on home soil. The report confirms that Roma's starting line-up was Gollini; Ghilardi, N'Dicka, Hermoso; Molina, Cristante, De Roon, Wesley; Soulé, Mora; Malen, and that Udinese lined up in a 3-4-2-1 formation with Okoye in goal, Davis up front and Zaniolo and Ekkelenkamp in support. Hermoso was replaced by Koulierakis in the 84th minute, and the match finished 5-2 to Roma.