Gasperini: raise standards by improving daily; Mora speaks of Roma's prestige

Rodrigo Mora has explained his reasons for joining Roma, highlighting the club's prestige and playing style as key factors in his decision. Speaking to Sky Sport, the Portuguese midfielder praised the opportunity to compete in the Champions League and outlined his approach to life under head coach Gian Piero Gasperini. "I think Roma is a very prestigious club and the style of play it proposes is one more reason why I chose to come," Mora said. "Then having the chance to play in the Champions League represents an important step for my life. Gasperini is certainly a very demanding coach towards the squad and all the players." Mora's early impact has been positive. He scored his first Roma goal in a league match against Lecce, a moment he described as highly emotional. "It was a very emotional moment. I like to score. And scoring my first goal for Roma was important," he reflected. The midfielder has set his priorities clearly, declining to focus on personal goal tallies in favour of team contribution. "Honestly I don't think about the number of goals I could score, but above all about helping the squad with goals, assists, whatever is needed to help the squad. This is the fundamental thing," Mora explained. His remarks underline Roma's confidence in his talent and ambition, positioning him as a key part of Gasperini's project.

Rodrigo Mora has become one of AS Roma's standout signings of the summer transfer window. Arriving for 25 million euros, the Portuguese midfielder marked his competitive debut with a goal in Roma's Serie A match against Lecce. In an interview with Sky Sport, Mora discussed the emotion of that opening goal and his working relationship with head coach Gian Piero Gasperini. Mora explained his decision to join the club: "I think Roma is a very prestigious club and the style of play it proposes is an additional reason why I chose to come here. Then having the opportunity to play Champions League football represents an important step for my life. Without question, Gasperini is a very demanding coach towards the squad and all the players." On scoring against Lecce, he reflected: "It was a very emotional moment. I like to score, and scoring my first goal for Roma was very important. Honestly I don't think about the number of goals I could score, but above all about helping the team with goals, assists and whatever is needed — that is the fundamental thing."

Rodrigo Mora has become the centerpiece of Roma's summer transfer strategy, bringing talent and fresh impetus to the squad. The Portuguese midfielder has already scored, netting against Lecce, and spoke to Sky Sport about his early impressions of the club and his new surroundings. Mora highlighted Roma's status as a major draw for his decision to join. "I think Roma is a very prestigious club and the style of play it proposes is one more reason why I chose to come," he said. He also emphasized the significance of the opportunity to compete in the Champions League as an important step in his career. On his new head coach, Mora observed: "Without doubt Gasperini is a very demanding coach towards the squad and all the players." Reflecting on his goal against Lecce, Mora described the moment as very emotional. "I like to score. And scoring my first goal for Roma was important," he said. However, he stressed that individual statistics are secondary to collective success: "Honestly I don't think about the number of goals I could score, but above all about helping the team with goals, assists, whatever is needed to help the squad—that is the fundamental thing."

Roma have no injury concerns over Mario Hermoso ahead of Saturday's big match against Inter, with the defender set to be available for Gasperini to deploy against Chivu's attack. Hermoso will line up alongside Gianluca Mancini, with Leonardo Balerdi candidating for a starting spot after impressing in early appearances and set to compete with Evan N'Dicka for the centre-back role in the coming days. Gasperini is preparing multiple tactical options for the fixture. Emanuele Lulli could feature to counter Dimarco's threat, while Niccolò Pisilli might operate in a more advanced role on the trequarti, and Nahuel Molina could be deployed on the left wing. In a wide-ranging interview, the Roma head coach addressed the scudetto ambition, saying: "It is not this way of raising the bar. The bar is not raised by setting more or less achievable objectives: it is raised by improving every day, working on ourselves through this variety of players with all their own characteristics, trying to do better each time. Objectives can only be discussed after about twenty matches."

Leonardo Balerdi has become the focal point of Roma's preparation for Saturday's clash with Inter at the Olimpico after an impressive display on Monday against Torino in place of Evan N'Dicka. His convincing performance prompted Gasperini to view the Argentine defender as a potential starter against the Serie A champions, a promotion that has raised competitive intensity across the defence and the wider squad. Gasperini's team selection will be shaped by who delivers the strongest performances in training at Trigoria: those who maintain full commitment and maximum effort will earn starting places. The likely starting formation will closely resemble the strongest XI fielded last season, built around the established core players. The returning absentees from Monday—N'Dicka, Wesley, and Manu Koné—are set to come back into contention. The intriguing tactical question centres on the left-back slot, where teenage defender Emanuele Lulli has emerged as the focus of recent debate. Lulli's physical test results place him ahead of Nahuel Molina, making him the favourite to start, provided Gasperini prioritises the pace and pressing strength needed to contain Inter's left-side playmaker Dimarco. A third option exists: Wesley deployed on the right with Molina on the left, a setup already tested in training. Elsewhere, Mario Hermoso will mark Nicolò Barella, while Niccolò Pisilli is warming up for a potential late-match impact.

Marcus Thuram has emerged as the primary danger to Roma's defence ahead of their clash with Inter, with statistics backing up tactical concern. The French forward has scored three goals and provided two assists across four matches against Roma, a striking average. Last season he settled the first fixture with an early goal, then replicated the pattern at San Siro with a goal and two assists in Inter's 5–2 victory. Gasperini recognises the threat and is preparing a precise defensive adjustment rather than a wholesale overhaul. Gianluca Mancini and Mario Hermoso will remain in the back line, but Evan N'Dicka faces the prospect of dropping out to make room for Leonardo Balerdi. The change reflects tactical requirements rather than a demotion: Thuram's attacking runs into space and explosive pace in open play have exposed Roma's defensive shape, particularly when the match stretches and space opens up behind the line. Balerdi possesses the speed to track Thuram and recover quickly, and appears better suited to defending in those scenarios where the opponent can exploit depth. Roma want to avoid repeating last season's outcome. If Saturday's match develops as it did a year ago, Gasperini believes the Argentine defender may be better equipped than N'Dicka to manage Thuram's threat.

Roma have no injury concerns over Mario Hermoso ahead of Saturday's big match against Inter, with the defender set to be available for Gasperini to deploy against Chivu's attack. Hermoso will line up alongside Gianluca Mancini, with Leonardo Balerdi candidating for a starting spot after impressing in early appearances and set to compete with Evan N'Dicka for the centre-back role in the coming days. Gasperini is preparing multiple tactical options for the fixture. Emanuele Lulli could feature to counter Dimarco's threat, while Niccolò Pisilli might operate in a more advanced role on the trequarti, and Nahuel Molina could be deployed on the left wing. In a wide-ranging interview, the Roma head coach addressed the scudetto ambition, saying: "It is not this way of raising the bar. The bar is not raised by setting more or less achievable objectives: it is raised by improving every day, working on ourselves through this variety of players with all their own characteristics, trying to do better each time. Objectives can only be discussed after about twenty matches."

Leonardo Balerdi has become the focal point of Roma's preparation for Saturday's clash with Inter at the Olimpico after an impressive display on Monday against Torino in place of Evan N'Dicka. His convincing performance prompted Gasperini to view the Argentine defender as a potential starter against the Serie A champions, a promotion that has raised competitive intensity across the defence and the wider squad. Gasperini's team selection will be shaped by who delivers the strongest performances in training at Trigoria: those who maintain full commitment and maximum effort will earn starting places. The likely starting formation will closely resemble the strongest XI fielded last season, built around the established core players. The returning absentees from Monday—N'Dicka, Wesley, and Manu Koné—are set to come back into contention. The intriguing tactical question centres on the left-back slot, where teenage defender Emanuele Lulli has emerged as the focus of recent debate. Lulli's physical test results place him ahead of Nahuel Molina, making him the favourite to start, provided Gasperini prioritises the pace and pressing strength needed to contain Inter's left-side playmaker Dimarco. A third option exists: Wesley deployed on the right with Molina on the left, a setup already tested in training. Elsewhere, Mario Hermoso will mark Nicolò Barella, while Niccolò Pisilli is warming up for a potential late-match impact.

Mario Hermoso has returned to full training with Roma's squad after working separately on 16 September due to a slight ankle contusion. The defender completed the entire session without problems and will be available for Saturday's match against Inter at the Stadio Olimpico, which kicks off at 18:00. Roma continue preparations for the fixture with head coach Gian Piero Gasperini providing an injury update on 17 September at Trigoria. Hermoso's return to availability is a boost for the big match, with the defender having missed only the previous day's session as a precaution.

Rodrigo Mora has explained his reasons for joining Roma, highlighting the club's prestige and playing style as key factors in his decision. Speaking to Sky Sport, the Portuguese midfielder praised the opportunity to compete in the Champions League and outlined his approach to life under head coach Gian Piero Gasperini. "I think Roma is a very prestigious club and the style of play it proposes is one more reason why I chose to come," Mora said. "Then having the chance to play in the Champions League represents an important step for my life. Gasperini is certainly a very demanding coach towards the squad and all the players." Mora's early impact has been positive. He scored his first Roma goal in a league match against Lecce, a moment he described as highly emotional. "It was a very emotional moment. I like to score. And scoring my first goal for Roma was important," he reflected. The midfielder has set his priorities clearly, declining to focus on personal goal tallies in favour of team contribution. "Honestly I don't think about the number of goals I could score, but above all about helping the squad with goals, assists, whatever is needed to help the squad. This is the fundamental thing," Mora explained. His remarks underline Roma's confidence in his talent and ambition, positioning him as a key part of Gasperini's project.

Rodrigo Mora has become one of AS Roma's standout signings of the summer transfer window. Arriving for 25 million euros, the Portuguese midfielder marked his competitive debut with a goal in Roma's Serie A match against Lecce. In an interview with Sky Sport, Mora discussed the emotion of that opening goal and his working relationship with head coach Gian Piero Gasperini. Mora explained his decision to join the club: "I think Roma is a very prestigious club and the style of play it proposes is an additional reason why I chose to come here. Then having the opportunity to play Champions League football represents an important step for my life. Without question, Gasperini is a very demanding coach towards the squad and all the players." On scoring against Lecce, he reflected: "It was a very emotional moment. I like to score, and scoring my first goal for Roma was very important. Honestly I don't think about the number of goals I could score, but above all about helping the team with goals, assists and whatever is needed — that is the fundamental thing."

Rodrigo Mora has become the centerpiece of Roma's summer transfer strategy, bringing talent and fresh impetus to the squad. The Portuguese midfielder has already scored, netting against Lecce, and spoke to Sky Sport about his early impressions of the club and his new surroundings. Mora highlighted Roma's status as a major draw for his decision to join. "I think Roma is a very prestigious club and the style of play it proposes is one more reason why I chose to come," he said. He also emphasized the significance of the opportunity to compete in the Champions League as an important step in his career. On his new head coach, Mora observed: "Without doubt Gasperini is a very demanding coach towards the squad and all the players." Reflecting on his goal against Lecce, Mora described the moment as very emotional. "I like to score. And scoring my first goal for Roma was important," he said. However, he stressed that individual statistics are secondary to collective success: "Honestly I don't think about the number of goals I could score, but above all about helping the team with goals, assists, whatever is needed to help the squad—that is the fundamental thing."