Gasperini previews Manchester United clash as Roma face Champions League test without Svilar, Koné and Dybala

Gian Piero Gasperini has warned Roma not to underestimate Manchester United despite the Premier League club's difficulties, ahead of their Champions League clash at Old Trafford on Tuesday 3 November. Speaking at his press conference, the head coach said: "It is a strong team, there are players of absolute value, it is a hot and difficult environment. We are preparing as if we were facing the best Manchester." Roma face continued absences. Paulo Dybala, Lorenzo Pellegrini and Manu Koné are all unavailable, forcing the squad to adapt. Gasperini said: "In midfield we are counted. I hope it is a moment of transition." He assured that the players available are ready, while the return of the injured players could come after the international break. Gasperini also praised the wide options, saying Wesley and Lulli are doing well on the flanks, while Molina and Rensch have responded positively when called upon. Marten de Roon also spoke at the press conference on the eve of Manchester United-Roma. He said: "Gasp? I respect him enormously, his way of training us tactically is above everyone else's." According to the midfielder, the squad is developing personality, although against Real Madrid a little maturity was missing. He said: "We must defend better at certain moments. But we are growing." De Roon also commented on the applause the fans gave the team against Cagliari, stressing that performances matter most: "Results always show what you are worth, I am on the right track to earn their forgiveness." He added maximum respect for Manchester United and the atmosphere at Old Trafford, but also the desire to return home with an important result: "They are a strong team, but we want to achieve a great result." Roma will wear their third kit of the season for the Champions League trip to Old Trafford on Tuesday 3 November. The outfield players will wear grey shirts, while the goalkeeper will wear yellow. The warm-up tops will be aqua green. This differs from the last league match against Udinese, when Roma played in their traditional red shirt. Former manager Roberto Pruzzo, speaking to Radio Radio, said: "Manchester United look like a second-tier team. Against Como they performed terribly, it is a team that has switched off. It is an opportunity to seize, without thinking we are much stronger than our opponents. The team is in full health and I think there are prospects to continue doing well." Carina, also on Radio Radio, said: "It is the best moment to face Manchester. Roma have always lost: 4 times out of 4, including the emphatic 7-1. Those were always defeats that hurt, now you have the chance to do well. Roma are a pleasure to watch, they always want to score more goals and can trouble any team in the world as long as their legs hold up."

Roma completed their final preparations at Old Trafford on Monday ahead of Tuesday's Champions League match against Manchester United, on 3 November. After the pre-match press conference, Gian Piero Gasperini's squad took to the pitch of the historic English stadium for the usual training session, their last session before the European fixture. The players were able to get used to the playing surface that will host the match against the Red Devils, and the session also gave the coaching staff a chance to assess the condition of the players after their recent league commitments. The session concludes an unusual build-up to the trip to England. After the match against Udinese, Roma did not return to Trigoria. Instead they continued their preparations in Friuli, training at the Udinese club's sports centre before travelling on to Manchester. The club chose this arrangement to cut down on travel and manage their energy levels in a tightly packed fixture schedule. Before the session, Gasperini spoke at the press conference, saying: "We are preparing as if it were the best Manchester United." He also said: "After the break we will have our injured players back." The Roma head coach and his staff now have to finalise the last details ahead of a match that carries significant weight in the Champions League.

Roma have completed their final training session at Old Trafford ahead of Wednesday's Champions League League Phase fourth-matchday clash with Manchester United, which takes place in roughly twenty-four hours. Leonardo Balerdi trained with a visible strap on his right knee. The Argentine defender played the first half hour against Napoli, scoring a brace at the Maradona in a 3-3 draw, but has been on the bench for the last two fixtures against Cagliari and Udinese. He is unlikely to start tomorrow evening, but could come on as a substitute. Bryan Cristante also trained with a visible strap, this time on his left knee. His place in the starting line-up alongside Soulé, with Malen in support, is practically certain. For the midfielder and Roma captain, tomorrow will be his fourth consecutive start since returning from injury in a week and a half. Roma's preparation included the usual warm-up, followed by physical drills, bull-type exercises and short sprints. The session was held after a press conference given by Gian Piero Gasperini and Marten de Roon, who addressed the media on the eve of the trip to Old Trafford.

Gian Piero Gasperini has told reporters that Roma must not be distracted by Manchester United's struggles as the Giallorossi prepare for Wednesday's Champions League League Phase fourth-matchday fixture at Old Trafford, which kicks off at 21:00. Roma arrive in Manchester after a commanding 5-2 Serie A win over Udinese, and the match comes at the end of a particularly demanding run of fixtures. The Giallorossi.net editorial team is covering the head coach's press conference live from Manchester, which begins at 18:20 Italian time. Gasperini acknowledged that United are going through a difficult period in the league, but he stressed that his side cannot afford to take their opponents lightly. "Manchester is in a difficult moment in their results, but we cannot be distracted. However, it is a strong team, there are players of absolute quality, it is a warm and difficult environment. We are preparing as if we were facing the best Manchester." On whether Roma are yet perfect, Gasperini said: "Perfection does not exist for the very great teams, nor for us. Our quality is that we always try to improve ourselves. We know our characteristics, but we know that in some situations we can do better." Asked about the dream of playing at Old Trafford, the so-called Theatre of Dreams, he said: "Everyone has the right to dream. I try to make dreams that are achievable in the short term, starting from tomorrow, in a fantastic stadium famous all over the world. I hope it is achievable." On injuries, Gasperini admitted the squad is stretched. "If you are missing Pellegrini, Dybala and Koné in the same areas, we try to adapt a little at certain moments. We have the alternative of Castro with Malen, and in midfield we are counted. I hope it is a passing moment. We have played these seven matches on a knife edge. But we have always had prepared players who have recovered quickly. Mora? He is well, the 17 we have are all ready. After the break we hope to have everyone back. Difficult this week." On defensive options, he praised Lulli and Wesley. "In that area, Wesley is also doing very well alongside Lulli. Molina needed to play, and Rensch has also done very well. For them it is demanding, they cover a lot of ground with acceleration and speed." Gasperini was also asked about his own past in England and the contrast with Michael Carrick's current difficulties at United. "Every situation is different. I do not know the Manchester situation precisely, but they have strong players. You can suffer for a certain period, but then you can restart, hopefully from the day after tomorrow. I was at Inter for really too short a time, three matches, so I would not make that comparison." He was further asked whether Italian football has closed the gap with England on the pitch. "We will have to see from the results. The last time it went better, the previous day not well for the Italian sides. The Italian championship is expressing a good quality of play, with many teams giving their fans satisfaction and many good matches." On whether United's current form makes this the right moment to face them, Gasperini replied: "We hope so, but it is always a great unknown. They are teams made up of very strong players, who in the league in particular have had difficulties. But you can always expect reactions and the capacity to find the path they have not found until now. We hope the opposite, and to accentuate their difficulties." Asked whether Mora or three midfielders will start, he said: "We will see. We play so intensely between one match and the next that we have to wait until the last day to decide." Finally, on Svilar, Koné and Dybala, Gasperini said: "We are travelling one step at a time. For now we play this match, then on Wednesday we return to Rome and we will assess all three to see whether it is possible to recover them against Sassuolo or after the break."

Pierluigi Gollini returns to Old Trafford twelve years after leaving Manchester United, the club he joined as a teenager and the place where he first made his name. The Roma goalkeeper is coming back in a key moment of his time in Rome. Gollini left Fiorentina's youth sector in 2012, aged 16, to move to England. The decision angered sporting director Corvino. After two seasons in the Academy, he moved into the Under-21 side, alongside Macheda, and began training regularly with the first team. In 2013/14 he played three Youth League matches but never made a first-team debut for the Red Devils. A few months later he returned to Italy, signing for Verona. He went back to the Premier League two years later with Aston Villa, and again with Tottenham in 2021. Looking back on his time in Manchester, Gollini has spoken of how the experience shaped him deeply, both as a person and as a player, exposing him to a completely different culture and reality. He recalled how his father first raised the idea: "My dad at one point asked me: 'Would you feel up to going to play abroad?' We went out to dinner at a restaurant and at a certain point my dad pulled a little card out and placed it in front of me: it was the business card of Manchester United. I was incredulous, I couldn't believe it." He also said: "Manchester was fundamental for my development. In England there is a different mentality, much more open and functional. Looking at how a club is run, what surprises you most is the level of the youth sectors, where they immediately work on physicality. In Italy a young player coming from the Primavera can't establish himself because of his physique, while in England the gap between the Under-23s and the first team is not so pronounced." The return comes at a particular moment in his Roma career. A stress fracture to the foot suffered by Svilar gave Gollini the starting berth. The former Atalanta keeper seized the opportunity, making his seventh consecutive appearance of the season in Udine. An important test now lies ahead before the gloves are handed back to Svilar.

Gian Piero Gasperini has reworked Roma's schedule around their Champions League clash at Manchester, with the club's return journey from the away game changed as well. Roma are playing their eighth match in 24 days and have had to do much of that without Manu Koné, Paulo Dybala, Mile Svilar and Bryan Cristante, leaving the squad stretched. A win in Manchester would all but seal a play-off place, but Roma must also break their Old Trafford hoodoo and cope with fatigue. After Tuesday's match against Cagliari, Gasperini gave the players a day off, with training resuming on Thursday. The squad leave for Udine on Friday, play on Saturday, and then stay in Friuli rather than returning to Rome. Roma have been in Manchester since yesterday, and the return plan differs from previous away trips. There will be no overnight journey after the match; instead, the team depart at 10.45 the following morning. The squad are due back at Trigoria on Wednesday afternoon, and from Thursday the focus shifts to Sassuolo. The lighter schedule is meant to help the players recover quickly before Saturday evening's fixture against the Neroverdi at the Stadio Olimpico. The move is designed to reduce physical and mental strain on a squad short of options, with Gasperini studying a plan to manage the team's energy levels across the run of games.

Gian Piero Gasperini has warned Roma not to underestimate Manchester United despite the Premier League club's difficulties, ahead of their Champions League clash at Old Trafford on Tuesday 3 November. Speaking at his press conference, the head coach said: "It is a strong team, there are players of absolute value, it is a hot and difficult environment. We are preparing as if we were facing the best Manchester." Roma face continued absences. Paulo Dybala, Lorenzo Pellegrini and Manu Koné are all unavailable, forcing the squad to adapt. Gasperini said: "In midfield we are counted. I hope it is a moment of transition." He assured that the players available are ready, while the return of the injured players could come after the international break. Gasperini also praised the wide options, saying Wesley and Lulli are doing well on the flanks, while Molina and Rensch have responded positively when called upon. Marten de Roon also spoke at the press conference on the eve of Manchester United-Roma. He said: "Gasp? I respect him enormously, his way of training us tactically is above everyone else's." According to the midfielder, the squad is developing personality, although against Real Madrid a little maturity was missing. He said: "We must defend better at certain moments. But we are growing." De Roon also commented on the applause the fans gave the team against Cagliari, stressing that performances matter most: "Results always show what you are worth, I am on the right track to earn their forgiveness." He added maximum respect for Manchester United and the atmosphere at Old Trafford, but also the desire to return home with an important result: "They are a strong team, but we want to achieve a great result." Roma will wear their third kit of the season for the Champions League trip to Old Trafford on Tuesday 3 November. The outfield players will wear grey shirts, while the goalkeeper will wear yellow. The warm-up tops will be aqua green. This differs from the last league match against Udinese, when Roma played in their traditional red shirt. Former manager Roberto Pruzzo, speaking to Radio Radio, said: "Manchester United look like a second-tier team. Against Como they performed terribly, it is a team that has switched off. It is an opportunity to seize, without thinking we are much stronger than our opponents. The team is in full health and I think there are prospects to continue doing well." Carina, also on Radio Radio, said: "It is the best moment to face Manchester. Roma have always lost: 4 times out of 4, including the emphatic 7-1. Those were always defeats that hurt, now you have the chance to do well. Roma are a pleasure to watch, they always want to score more goals and can trouble any team in the world as long as their legs hold up."

Gian Piero Gasperini has told reporters that Roma must not be distracted by Manchester United's struggles as the Giallorossi prepare for Wednesday's Champions League League Phase fourth-matchday fixture at Old Trafford, which kicks off at 21:00. Roma arrive in Manchester after a commanding 5-2 Serie A win over Udinese, and the match comes at the end of a particularly demanding run of fixtures. The Giallorossi.net editorial team is covering the head coach's press conference live from Manchester, which begins at 18:20 Italian time. Gasperini acknowledged that United are going through a difficult period in the league, but he stressed that his side cannot afford to take their opponents lightly. "Manchester is in a difficult moment in their results, but we cannot be distracted. However, it is a strong team, there are players of absolute quality, it is a warm and difficult environment. We are preparing as if we were facing the best Manchester." On whether Roma are yet perfect, Gasperini said: "Perfection does not exist for the very great teams, nor for us. Our quality is that we always try to improve ourselves. We know our characteristics, but we know that in some situations we can do better." Asked about the dream of playing at Old Trafford, the so-called Theatre of Dreams, he said: "Everyone has the right to dream. I try to make dreams that are achievable in the short term, starting from tomorrow, in a fantastic stadium famous all over the world. I hope it is achievable." On injuries, Gasperini admitted the squad is stretched. "If you are missing Pellegrini, Dybala and Koné in the same areas, we try to adapt a little at certain moments. We have the alternative of Castro with Malen, and in midfield we are counted. I hope it is a passing moment. We have played these seven matches on a knife edge. But we have always had prepared players who have recovered quickly. Mora? He is well, the 17 we have are all ready. After the break we hope to have everyone back. Difficult this week." On defensive options, he praised Lulli and Wesley. "In that area, Wesley is also doing very well alongside Lulli. Molina needed to play, and Rensch has also done very well. For them it is demanding, they cover a lot of ground with acceleration and speed." Gasperini was also asked about his own past in England and the contrast with Michael Carrick's current difficulties at United. "Every situation is different. I do not know the Manchester situation precisely, but they have strong players. You can suffer for a certain period, but then you can restart, hopefully from the day after tomorrow. I was at Inter for really too short a time, three matches, so I would not make that comparison." He was further asked whether Italian football has closed the gap with England on the pitch. "We will have to see from the results. The last time it went better, the previous day not well for the Italian sides. The Italian championship is expressing a good quality of play, with many teams giving their fans satisfaction and many good matches." On whether United's current form makes this the right moment to face them, Gasperini replied: "We hope so, but it is always a great unknown. They are teams made up of very strong players, who in the league in particular have had difficulties. But you can always expect reactions and the capacity to find the path they have not found until now. We hope the opposite, and to accentuate their difficulties." Asked whether Mora or three midfielders will start, he said: "We will see. We play so intensely between one match and the next that we have to wait until the last day to decide." Finally, on Svilar, Koné and Dybala, Gasperini said: "We are travelling one step at a time. For now we play this match, then on Wednesday we return to Rome and we will assess all three to see whether it is possible to recover them against Sassuolo or after the break."

Marcus Rashford will not play against Roma tomorrow evening, with Manchester United's Carrick-led side missing him through injury, having been offered to Roma during the summer but ending the transfer interest over his wages. Roma head into the Champions League fixture against Manchester United without Dybala and Pellegrini, and their search for a left winger ended without a signing after the names of Leweling, Luiz Henrique and Nusa faded away in the final days of the transfer window. Roma's attack will be led by Mora, Malen, Soulé and Castro, and the club are dealing with an emergency situation in that department. Manchester United, by contrast, are going through one of the worst moments in their history, and Carrick faces a critical test without Shaw, Ugarte and Sesko. Rashford had trained partially with the group in the days before the match, but he has been ruled out and is not at 100 per cent fitness. The England star had been offered to Roma during the summer, with a first attempt made last year and the player, who was not bought permanently by Barcelona, proposed again a few months ago. Gian Piero Gasperini gave his approval, and there were several contacts in July. The dream ended quickly because of his high annual salary of 11 million euros, which also held back Barcelona, who ultimately decided not to make his move permanent. Rashford and Roma will not meet tomorrow evening.

Gian Piero Gasperini has warned Roma not to underestimate Manchester United despite the Premier League club's difficulties, ahead of their Champions League clash at Old Trafford on Tuesday 3 November. Speaking at his press conference, the head coach said: "It is a strong team, there are players of absolute value, it is a hot and difficult environment. We are preparing as if we were facing the best Manchester." Roma face continued absences. Paulo Dybala, Lorenzo Pellegrini and Manu Koné are all unavailable, forcing the squad to adapt. Gasperini said: "In midfield we are counted. I hope it is a moment of transition." He assured that the players available are ready, while the return of the injured players could come after the international break. Gasperini also praised the wide options, saying Wesley and Lulli are doing well on the flanks, while Molina and Rensch have responded positively when called upon. Marten de Roon also spoke at the press conference on the eve of Manchester United-Roma. He said: "Gasp? I respect him enormously, his way of training us tactically is above everyone else's." According to the midfielder, the squad is developing personality, although against Real Madrid a little maturity was missing. He said: "We must defend better at certain moments. But we are growing." De Roon also commented on the applause the fans gave the team against Cagliari, stressing that performances matter most: "Results always show what you are worth, I am on the right track to earn their forgiveness." He added maximum respect for Manchester United and the atmosphere at Old Trafford, but also the desire to return home with an important result: "They are a strong team, but we want to achieve a great result." Roma will wear their third kit of the season for the Champions League trip to Old Trafford on Tuesday 3 November. The outfield players will wear grey shirts, while the goalkeeper will wear yellow. The warm-up tops will be aqua green. This differs from the last league match against Udinese, when Roma played in their traditional red shirt. Former manager Roberto Pruzzo, speaking to Radio Radio, said: "Manchester United look like a second-tier team. Against Como they performed terribly, it is a team that has switched off. It is an opportunity to seize, without thinking we are much stronger than our opponents. The team is in full health and I think there are prospects to continue doing well." Carina, also on Radio Radio, said: "It is the best moment to face Manchester. Roma have always lost: 4 times out of 4, including the emphatic 7-1. Those were always defeats that hurt, now you have the chance to do well. Roma are a pleasure to watch, they always want to score more goals and can trouble any team in the world as long as their legs hold up."

Gian Piero Gasperini has told reporters that Roma must not be distracted by Manchester United's struggles as the Giallorossi prepare for Wednesday's Champions League League Phase fourth-matchday fixture at Old Trafford, which kicks off at 21:00. Roma arrive in Manchester after a commanding 5-2 Serie A win over Udinese, and the match comes at the end of a particularly demanding run of fixtures. The Giallorossi.net editorial team is covering the head coach's press conference live from Manchester, which begins at 18:20 Italian time. Gasperini acknowledged that United are going through a difficult period in the league, but he stressed that his side cannot afford to take their opponents lightly. "Manchester is in a difficult moment in their results, but we cannot be distracted. However, it is a strong team, there are players of absolute quality, it is a warm and difficult environment. We are preparing as if we were facing the best Manchester." On whether Roma are yet perfect, Gasperini said: "Perfection does not exist for the very great teams, nor for us. Our quality is that we always try to improve ourselves. We know our characteristics, but we know that in some situations we can do better." Asked about the dream of playing at Old Trafford, the so-called Theatre of Dreams, he said: "Everyone has the right to dream. I try to make dreams that are achievable in the short term, starting from tomorrow, in a fantastic stadium famous all over the world. I hope it is achievable." On injuries, Gasperini admitted the squad is stretched. "If you are missing Pellegrini, Dybala and Koné in the same areas, we try to adapt a little at certain moments. We have the alternative of Castro with Malen, and in midfield we are counted. I hope it is a passing moment. We have played these seven matches on a knife edge. But we have always had prepared players who have recovered quickly. Mora? He is well, the 17 we have are all ready. After the break we hope to have everyone back. Difficult this week." On defensive options, he praised Lulli and Wesley. "In that area, Wesley is also doing very well alongside Lulli. Molina needed to play, and Rensch has also done very well. For them it is demanding, they cover a lot of ground with acceleration and speed." Gasperini was also asked about his own past in England and the contrast with Michael Carrick's current difficulties at United. "Every situation is different. I do not know the Manchester situation precisely, but they have strong players. You can suffer for a certain period, but then you can restart, hopefully from the day after tomorrow. I was at Inter for really too short a time, three matches, so I would not make that comparison." He was further asked whether Italian football has closed the gap with England on the pitch. "We will have to see from the results. The last time it went better, the previous day not well for the Italian sides. The Italian championship is expressing a good quality of play, with many teams giving their fans satisfaction and many good matches." On whether United's current form makes this the right moment to face them, Gasperini replied: "We hope so, but it is always a great unknown. They are teams made up of very strong players, who in the league in particular have had difficulties. But you can always expect reactions and the capacity to find the path they have not found until now. We hope the opposite, and to accentuate their difficulties." Asked whether Mora or three midfielders will start, he said: "We will see. We play so intensely between one match and the next that we have to wait until the last day to decide." Finally, on Svilar, Koné and Dybala, Gasperini said: "We are travelling one step at a time. For now we play this match, then on Wednesday we return to Rome and we will assess all three to see whether it is possible to recover them against Sassuolo or after the break."

Roma are reportedly keeping an eye on Brazilian midfielder Gabriel Sara, who plays for Galatasaray, as they look to strengthen their midfield in the January transfer window. The 1999-born player, who had been linked with the Giallorossi in the past, has reportedly returned to the club's list of monitored names, according to German outlet fussball-news.de. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini is reportedly seeking reinforcements in midfield after Lorenzo Pellegrini suffered a serious injury, leaving the department without an important player. Sara is said to combine technical quality, forward runs and energy, qualities that could prove useful in Gasperini's midfield. Competition, however, is already significant. Napoli have reportedly also looked at the player in Italy, while Newcastle and Everton have reportedly moved for him from the Premier League. The two English clubs are reportedly ready to offer a figure close to €30 million to persuade Galatasaray to sell the midfielder. Roma are watching and evaluating the situation for now. The need to add a midfielder has become even more pressing following Pellegrini's absence, but much will depend on the economics of the deal and the competition that develops in the coming weeks.