Gasperini: Roma fans recognise themselves in this team; a title would be extraordinary

Gian Piero Gasperini spoke at the Festival dello Sport in Trento, where he and CEO John Galantic selected Roma's all-time best XI. Beyond the exercise, Gasperini revealed a coach fully committed to the Roma project. He praised Bryan Cristante as a "central hub" and spoke of removing Paulo Dybala's fear of shooting: "If you give me these players, then I will make them play." Addressing the club's future, Gasperini said: "I've seen renderings of the new stadium at Pietralata. Rome and Italy need things like this. I hope to be there when it is inaugurated." On the pitch, Gasperini dismissed talk of the Scudetto but stressed the importance of his relationship with the Roma support. "I had a different idea of Roma fans—I thought it was blind love. Instead I found a mature public that joins extraordinary attachment with the ability to recognise other people's work. A nice chemistry has formed, there's good energy," he said. When asked about Inter, Gasperini acknowledged their standing but redirected focus: "They are recognised by everyone as the strongest in Italy, but it's right to look at our own path." Roma's next opponent is Como, a match Gasperini noted will be a test: "We'll face them as rivals in Primavera too. They are clever, have ideas and resources." Galantic confirmed Roma's commitment to the Under-23 project. "We need it," the CEO said. "We want to increase the number of young players from the academy reaching the first team. The new stadium will place Roma among Europe's top clubs."

CEO John Galanic laid out Roma's future strategy at the Trento Sports Festival, emphasizing youth development and a shift away from reliance on player sales. Galanic said: "You cannot live off transfer profits; you need to grow more talent like Lulli and Pisilli. We must renovate the youth sector and we're already doing that with D'Amico and Margiotta, then we need the Under 23. We need it. Every year we want to insert academy-developed players to grow and have a sustainable model." The club is moving away from sales driven by "budget needs," as head coach Gian Piero Gasperini explained regarding recent departures. Gasperini has won over the Roma fanbase and city in just over a year, with supporters calling for a Champions League triumph. When asked if winning would make him emperor, Gasperini replied: "Let's skip that; they all came to a bad end (laughs)." He acknowledged Roma's progress relative to stronger rivals: "I look at our journey. Inter is the best in Italy, but if you only chase the strongest, you risk losing yourself in frustration. We've drawn closer and that's already rewarding." He also hinted at long-term commitment: "Will I be in the new stadium? I hope so." On the stadium project, Galanic outlined an ambitious timeline: "It will change everything and raise revenue. Between March and April we expect the first stone to be laid. The Friedkins speak little, but in this case silence is golden." The ownership, which acquired the club in 2020, has made few public statements, but Galanic's remarks underscored their focus on sustainable growth through academy investment alongside the planned new ground.

Bryan Cristante will miss Roma's Serie A trip to Como after the international break due to a knee injury, with his availability for the subsequent Champions League match against Real Madrid remaining in doubt. The midfielder's absence comes at a crucial point in the season, with Real Madrid's visit to the Stadio Olimpico among the most anticipated fixtures of Roma's opening campaign. Gian Piero Gasperini and Roma CEO John Galantic were both present at the Festival dello Sport in Trento, where Galantic addressed the departure of a young academy prospect. Gasperini explained the reasoning behind the sale: "The fact that Romano was sold are financial requirements and balance-sheet needs. We have seen great clubs that have had to sell important young players to remedy balance-sheet situations. This is not a good thing for our football; the best jewels must have time and opportunity to grow." Galantic separately praised Matías Soulé, describing him as another product of Roma's youth academy. "It is a very interesting boy," he said. "It was unfortunate what happened last week: it seemed we had found the player who would fix the national team and then he was excessively criticised. Perhaps adults need to stay calm in their judgement. When I saw Soulé's goal I lost my head and understood nothing anymore… that is the beauty of sport." Galantic made his comments while attending the festival in Trento alongside Gasperini.

Gian Piero Gasperini addressed the Gazzetta dello Sport's Festival dello Sport in Trento, reflecting on his arrival at Roma and the squad's early development under his management. He described his first message to the players as the creation of something new from the ground up. "It's like when you do a new construction: you must lay new and different foundations straight away," Gasperini said. "We never spoke about my previous years. We had to build something new immediately, founded on concepts different from what many players were used to, but also what they expected from me and asked of me. Football can be played in many ways, but the first concept was to win the ball back from the opponent and not wait for him to make a mistake." Gasperini singled out the defensive group for particular praise, naming Gianluca Mancini and Mario Hermoso as standout performers but extending credit to goalkeeper Mile Svilar and Evan N'Dicka, who he said had been among Europe's best defenders for months. On Mancini, he revealed his approach: "I knew him when I was his opponent and I would think 'why is he so disagreeable?' and I immediately tried to tell him 'look, this penalises you, for many years you didn't go to the national team because of these attitudes.' That was the first thing I worked on." Mancini had "a fantastic season" and has since returned to the Italy squad. Hermoso, despite a difficult previous year, brought experience from Atlético Madrid's defensive discipline alongside Spanish quality and tactical knowledge. On Bryan Cristante, Gasperini explained his confidence in the midfielder despite early doubts. "I knew him as a young player. Very often in players you don't look at the 'control room'—personality, the way of playing for the squad and putting teammates' needs first—and that's something I've always considered," he said. "When I was at Atalanta we sold Gagliardini to Inter and he couldn't stand out. Sartori gave me his name, I met the young Beppe Riso and got to know this guy. He couldn't have lost his technical qualities. I spoke to him a lot and he convinced me. I was facing the right person, with motivation, and I hoped that footballistically he would come out and he did." Cristante has suffered a knee injury but should recover quickly. Gasperini acknowledged that "playing many matches, if you're out two weeks you risk missing five matches. He'll miss the first matches but will recover soon." On Paulo Dybala's remarkable early form this season, Gasperini said: "He's started the way it hasn't happened to him for years. I knew him in Palermo when he was very young. As with all great players, he still has enthusiasm and strength. When he's on the pitch he's well and wants to play." Regarding Romano, a young academy graduate, Gasperini was critical of circumstances beyond football: "The fact that Romano was sold is down to needs for capital gains and balance-sheet requirements. This is not something good for our football—you need the chance to let your best gems grow, but when there are these needs they become the first to be cut." Gasperini also discussed Donyell Malen's unexpected summer arrival. "Sometimes the planets align and things happen that you weren't thinking about days before," he said. "Malen was a known player; in summer we'd seen his characteristics, which were already known. Then things happen during the market where you think you've planned everything and then maybe something unforeseen comes up—sometimes bad, in this case good. In a moment when we were looking for a striker, this opportunity with Malen came up, exiting Aston Villa for a tactical reason. He wanted to play centre-forward and I've always seen centre-forward characteristics in him."

Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini addressed Roma's early-season progress at the Festival dello Sport in Trento on 2 October, praising Paulo Dybala's physical transformation while confirming Bryan Cristante will miss matches after the international break due to a knee problem. Gasperini outlined his tactical philosophy from his first training session, saying his immediate aim was to build something new at Roma. "My only objective was to create something new. It's like when you do a new construction: you must immediately lay new and different foundations," he said. He emphasised his defensive principles: "The first concept was to recover the ball from the opponent and not wait for him to make a mistake. That's where the rest started from." On his defence, Gasperini highlighted Mario Hermoso, Gianluca Mancini, Mile Svilar and Evan N'Dicka as key figures, noting that Hermoso brought experience from his time at Atlético Madrid alongside Spanish technical quality, while Mancini had undergone a personal shift. "I told him straight away: 'Look, this attitude is penalising you — for many years you didn't go to the national team because of these behaviours.' It's the first thing I worked on. He had a fantastic season, people have started talking about Mancini as a player again, and he's back in the national team." On Cristante, Gasperini revealed his long knowledge of the midfielder: "I knew him as a young player. Very often in players you don't look at the 'control room' — personality, the way of playing for the squad and putting teammates' needs first. It's something I've always considered." Regarding his current injury: "He had a knee problem, but playing many matches, if you're out for two weeks you risk missing 5 matches. He'll miss the first matches but will recover quickly." Dybala has drawn particular praise for his physical robustness this season. Gasperini explained: "He started the way it hasn't happened for years. He's had years of physical fragility — I thought it was a training matter. Many told me he has silk muscles, that I had to preserve him, and he'd continuously get injured. He has considerable fibre; some injuries were random. This season's start is extraordinary physically. He doesn't miss a single training session or match minute. It's proof of what I've always believed: through training you can improve endurance and performance." On young academy products Niccolò Pisilli and Emanuele Lulli, Gasperini stressed his faith in developing youth: "I grew up in the youth sector and started coaching under-10s, so I've always maintained that approach. Training in youth football helps you see the boy not as something definitive but as something you imagine could evolve." Gasperini also addressed the departure of another academy prospect, Romano, citing financial pressure: "The fact that Romano was sold is represented by profit and balance-sheet needs. This isn't good for our football — the best jewels must have the chance to grow, but if there are needs they become the first to be cut."

Gian Piero Gasperini spoke at the Trento Sports Festival on 2 October, discussing the foundations he has laid at Roma since his appointment and his vision for the season ahead. The Roma head coach outlined his tactical philosophy and explained how he has worked with the squad over the early weeks of the 2026–27 campaign. "My objective was to create something new, to lay new foundations straight away," Gasperini said. "We never spoke about my past; we had to create something new, based on new concepts of play that were different from what several players were used to. There are two ways in football: waiting for your opponent to lose the ball, or the other way—going to take it. This was the first concept, not to wait for the opponent, and everything else came from that." Gasperini praised his defensive options, singling out Mario Hermoso and Gianluca Mancini as key figures. He described the defence as his "gladiators," adding that Mile Svilar and Evan N'Dicka have been among Europe's best in recent months. On Mancini specifically, Gasperini revealed he had worked to improve the centre-back's attitude: "I knew Mancini, but when I was his opponent I'd think to myself, 'Why is he so unpleasant?' and I tried to tell him straight away, 'Look, this is hurting you—for many years you haven't gone to the national team because of these attitudes.' It was the first thing I worked on. He had a fantastic season, people started talking about Mancini as a player again, and he's returned to the national team." Gasperini offered extensive insight into Paulo Dybala's resurgence, attributing the Argentine forward's improved fitness to his training methods. "He's started as hasn't happened to him for years. I knew him at Palermo when he was very young; many years have passed but he, like all great players, still has enthusiasm and strength," Gasperini explained. "He had years of physical fragility. I thought it was a training issue. Many told me he had silk muscles, that I had to preserve him, and he kept getting injured. He has remarkable fibre; some injuries were random. This season's start is extraordinary physically. He doesn't miss a minute of training or matches. This shows what I've always believed: through training you can improve durability and performances." Regarding Dybala's reluctance to shoot from distance, Gasperini noted: "That's a legacy we'll get over soon. He got injured shooting with Milan and Torino last year and it stayed with him. Now he's overcoming it; he stopped sprinting and to see him jumping past opponents again... we'll return to shooting like before." When asked if he has coached better poets than Dybala, Gasperini responded: "I have a long career and have trained many strong players. Dybala is among the top, if not the absolute top. Ilicic and the Papu too—they're poets because they touch different strings from everyone else." Gasperini discussed young academy prospects Emanuele Lulli and Niccolò Pisilli, explaining his approach to youth development: "I grew up in the youth sector, coaching 11-year-olds through to the Primavera. I've maintained that approach and it's taught me to see the boy not as something to evaluate but as something to imagine how he might become. Pisilli already had value and experience; Lulli wasn't even always a starter in the Primavera. I have the habit of bringing a few boys from Primavera into training. I saw important characteristics in him and this year I brought him to the retreat. He played against Borussia Dortmund, a demanding match. These are the boys who tell you by how they play if they're ready. The answers come from watching them on the pitch." On Bryan Cristante, Gasperini confirmed a knee injury: "He had a knee problem but when you play many matches, if you're out two weeks you risk missing five matches. He'll miss the first games but will recover quickly." Donyell Malen's arrival was described as unexpected: "Sometimes the planets align and things happen you don't think about. He was a known player; we'd had a friendly where I saw his characteristics. These things happen during the market where you sometimes don't plan anything. We were looking for a striker because Dovbyk and Ferguson were injured. There were several names and suddenly I learned of this opportunity. He was leaving Aston Villa for tactical reasons; he wanted to be a centre-forward and I've always seen those characteristics in him. He has three fundamental touches—the closer he is to the box, the more deadly he is."

France and Italy drew 1-1 in a Nations League match at the Stade de France in Paris. Olise scored for France and Bastoni for Italy. Roma's two international representatives in the squads, Manu Koné and Gianluca Mancini, both remained on the bench for the full 90 minutes. The fixture was billed as one of the tournament's flagship matches between the sides managed by Zidane and Mancini.

Italy manager Roberto Mancini named his starting XI for the France fixture at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, with kickoff at 20:45. Mancini kept faith with the same eleven that played before, making minimal changes: Calafiori takes the left-wing spot, Pio Esposito leads the attack at centre-forward, Kean moves to the right wing, and Sebastiano Esposito completes the left-side trio. France manager Zinedine Zidane fielded a three-man attacking line of Olise, Dembele and Doué, keeping Manu Koné on the bench. Koné, a Roma player, was not included in Zidane's starting formation despite his availability. Italy's lineup came after two results: a defeat to Belgium and a 4–1 victory over Turkey. The fixture represents a major test for Mancini's side. France (4–3–3): Maignan; Koundé, Upamecano, Jacquet, Truffert; Da Cunha, Rabiot, Cherki; Olise, Dembele, Doué. Italy (4–3–3): Donnarumma; Kayode, Scalvini, Bastoni, Calafiori; Frattesi, Tonali, Fagioli; Kean, Pio Esposito, Sebastiano Esposito.

Gian Piero Gasperini addressed the Gazzetta dello Sport's Festival dello Sport in Trento, reflecting on his arrival at Roma and the squad's early development under his management. He described his first message to the players as the creation of something new from the ground up. "It's like when you do a new construction: you must lay new and different foundations straight away," Gasperini said. "We never spoke about my previous years. We had to build something new immediately, founded on concepts different from what many players were used to, but also what they expected from me and asked of me. Football can be played in many ways, but the first concept was to win the ball back from the opponent and not wait for him to make a mistake." Gasperini singled out the defensive group for particular praise, naming Gianluca Mancini and Mario Hermoso as standout performers but extending credit to goalkeeper Mile Svilar and Evan N'Dicka, who he said had been among Europe's best defenders for months. On Mancini, he revealed his approach: "I knew him when I was his opponent and I would think 'why is he so disagreeable?' and I immediately tried to tell him 'look, this penalises you, for many years you didn't go to the national team because of these attitudes.' That was the first thing I worked on." Mancini had "a fantastic season" and has since returned to the Italy squad. Hermoso, despite a difficult previous year, brought experience from Atlético Madrid's defensive discipline alongside Spanish quality and tactical knowledge. On Bryan Cristante, Gasperini explained his confidence in the midfielder despite early doubts. "I knew him as a young player. Very often in players you don't look at the 'control room'—personality, the way of playing for the squad and putting teammates' needs first—and that's something I've always considered," he said. "When I was at Atalanta we sold Gagliardini to Inter and he couldn't stand out. Sartori gave me his name, I met the young Beppe Riso and got to know this guy. He couldn't have lost his technical qualities. I spoke to him a lot and he convinced me. I was facing the right person, with motivation, and I hoped that footballistically he would come out and he did." Cristante has suffered a knee injury but should recover quickly. Gasperini acknowledged that "playing many matches, if you're out two weeks you risk missing five matches. He'll miss the first matches but will recover soon." On Paulo Dybala's remarkable early form this season, Gasperini said: "He's started the way it hasn't happened to him for years. I knew him in Palermo when he was very young. As with all great players, he still has enthusiasm and strength. When he's on the pitch he's well and wants to play." Regarding Romano, a young academy graduate, Gasperini was critical of circumstances beyond football: "The fact that Romano was sold is down to needs for capital gains and balance-sheet requirements. This is not something good for our football—you need the chance to let your best gems grow, but when there are these needs they become the first to be cut." Gasperini also discussed Donyell Malen's unexpected summer arrival. "Sometimes the planets align and things happen that you weren't thinking about days before," he said. "Malen was a known player; in summer we'd seen his characteristics, which were already known. Then things happen during the market where you think you've planned everything and then maybe something unforeseen comes up—sometimes bad, in this case good. In a moment when we were looking for a striker, this opportunity with Malen came up, exiting Aston Villa for a tactical reason. He wanted to play centre-forward and I've always seen centre-forward characteristics in him."

Radio pundit Piero Torri has voiced concern that Bryan Cristante's injury could be more serious than initially thought, and has outlined how he would approach Roma's upcoming fixtures if the midfielder is unavailable. Speaking on Radio Manà Manà Sport Roma (90.9), Torri said: "I'm afraid Cristante's injury may not be a short one. If he's not fit, I wouldn't risk trying to get him back for Real Madrid. I would play de Roon at Como and Pisilli against Real Madrid." Torri also reflected on head coach Gian Piero Gasperini's handling of Paulo Dybala's minutes, saying the manager's approach has shifted his perspective. "What Gasperini said about Dybala struck me—it erased my previous beliefs about his playing time and management. And so far he's been proved right," Torri noted. He suggested Roma should begin discussions about Gasperini's contract intentions, given that the coach's deal will expire at the end of the season. Former Roma striker Roberto Pruzzo, speaking on Radio Radio Mattino (104.5), praised goalkeeper Mile Svilar's importance to the team: "Svilar is a world-class goalkeeper for Roma, I have no doubt about it. If there's a normal goalkeeper, it's easy to lose 3–1. But with him it's different."

Roma's international break will conclude this weekend, with the Serie A campaign resuming on Sunday 11 October at Como (12:30 CET, Stadio Sinigaglia). The Giallorossi arrive on the back of a 2–2 draw against Inter, a result that underlined their strong start to the season and their ability to compete with title contenders. The timing of the break is awkward—Roma must immediately shift mental gears for a relentless schedule that will see them play nine times in 27 days, a fixture run that will define their seasonal ambitions under Gasperini. The stretch begins at Como and continues without respite. Three days after the Lombard trip, on Wednesday 14 October, the Champions League returns to the Olimpico after seven years; Real Madrid, managed by José Mourinho, are the visitors. Saturday 17 brings Genoa to Rome, followed by Slovan Bratislava at home on Tuesday 20 in the Champions League league phase. Roma then travel to Napoli on Saturday 24 October, a fixture described as capable of revealing much about the Giallorossi's capacity to compete. There is no time to celebrate or recover: Tuesday 27 sees Cagliari at home in a midweek fixture. Saturday 31 brings a trip to Udinese, followed by a journey to England on 3 November to face Manchester United. The run concludes on 7 November with Sassuolo at home, the ninth and final match of the month-long cycle before the second international break of the season. The injury to Bryan Cristante is poorly timed, depriving the midfield of one of its key equilibrating figures at the start of this critical period. However, his absence opens a tactical opportunity: Marten de Roon is primed to take over the midfield and make his Roma debut from the start, likely already at Como. De Roon brings his customary aggression, solidity and experience. Niccolò Pisilli will offer freshness and enthusiasm, though he is more likely to deputise for Manu Koné than for Cristante. Lorenzo Pellegrini's return, even in a different role—more attacking midfielder than central midfielder in a two-man midfield—is the best possible news for Gasperini. The coach has made clear that there are no hierarchies at Trigoria: "those who are in better form play, for Roma's benefit." Roma's squad training resumes on Tuesday afternoon before the Como trip. The fixture list over the next month presents no respite and no room for fluctuation, with injury risk a constant concern as the team aims to navigate this pivotal stretch.

Roma radio commentators have praised Paulo Dybala and Mile Svilar as central to the club's prospects under head coach Gian Piero Gasperini this season. Carina told Radio Radio that Dybala represents Gasperini's main gamble and is succeeding in it. "The big difference compared to the past is exactly Dybala," Carina said. "If he continues like this, at these high levels, I would sign off on it. It's clear that at Roma it can change important targets. Gasperini is right: Dybala doesn't miss a training session, he has found the key to extend Dybala's career, who is a champion of Italian football." Carina also noted that Bryan Cristante has a knee inflammation that, while not serious, is a concern. Roberto Pruzzo backed goalkeeper Svilar without reservation. "Svilar is world-class for Roma, I have no doubt," Pruzzo said on Radio Radio. "If there is a normal goalkeeper, it is easy then to lose 3–1." Orsi, also speaking on Radio Radio, observed that goalkeepers in Italy are not generally regarded as world-class figures.