Gian Piero Gasperini confirmed at his press conference on 10 October that goalkeeper Mile Svilar will be sidelined for approximately one month after sustaining a stress fracture to his little toe during a training session. The injury occurred a week earlier, following a contact incident during an exercise, and does not require surgery provided the club opts against inserting a screw—a procedure that would extend his absence. Pierluigi Gollini will assume the starting role in Svilar's absence. Gasperini described the injury as "a bad blow" but noted that such setbacks are inevitable across long seasons. He also confirmed that defender Konstantinos Koulierakis picked up a knock while on international duty and will not be available for Sunday's match, though the issue is only a contusion and he should return on Monday.
Roma face Como at the Stadio Sinigaglia on Sunday 11 October at 12:30, returning to league action after the international break. Gasperini praised Como's credentials under Cesc Fabregas, describing them as part of a four-team group—alongside Juventus, Milan, Napoli and Atalanta—battling for positions behind Inter, who he believes are "a step above the others" this season. He noted that Roma played "an extremely positive" match against Inter recently and will draw from that performance. On Gollini, Gasperini defended the goalkeeper's readiness, saying he "is an excellent backup goalkeeper and now has the opportunity to play many matches," emphasizing that Gollini was once a regular at Atalanta and the Italian national team.
Gasperini confirmed that defender Wesley performed well in recent matches, particularly against Inter, and that the break has been valuable for players arriving late in the transfer window, including midfielder Marten de Roon and defender Nahuel Molina—though Leonardo Balerdi departed for international duty. He disclosed that Roma will field 18 outfield players plus Gollini, with 16 of the 18 expected to take the pitch across the intense fixture schedule. On the topic of ownership, Gasperini stated: "For a team to become great as I understand it, I believe it is important to also have an ownership that is close by. I came here after speaking with Dan and Ryan, and it was precisely this that convinced me that important work could be done. I hope that the same idea and vision still exist."
Gasperini expressed satisfaction with goals Roma has scored but acknowledged that conceding after the interval warrants reflection, characterizing those moments as "individual episodes" rather than systemic tactical failures. He declined to elaborate further on why Roma struggles to win titles, leaving that analysis to others. Roma will prepare for the Como fixture with the squad largely recovered from the international break.
Story Coverage8 sources on this story
# Roma Face Extended Spell Without Svilar After Training Injury
All outlets confirm that Mile Svilar will miss approximately one month after suffering a stress fracture to the fifth toe of his right foot during a training session. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini announced the setback at his pre-match press conference ahead of Roma's Serie A visit to Como on Sunday 12 October. Gasperini described the injury as "a heavy blow" but noted that such complications are inevitable across long seasons. Svilar will be sidelined until after the mid-November international break, forcing him to miss nine fixtures over 28 days, including key matches against Como, Real Madrid, Napoli and Manchester United. In a social media statement, Svilar wrote: "I didn't need this right now, but it's part of the game. I'm already focused on my recovery and determined to come back stronger than ever. In the meantime, forza Roma always! Confidence in the process."
Pierluigi Gollini will step in as Roma's goalkeeper, marking his first extended run of matches since joining the club on permanent transfer from Atalanta on 24 January 2025. The 29-year-old has not featured in Serie A since 5 October 2024, though he appeared for Roma in January against Panathinaikos in the Europa League. Gollini and Gasperini have a long history: Gollini established himself as Atalanta's primary goalkeeper between 2018 and 2021 under Gasperini, earning an Italy cap. After spells at Tottenham, Fiorentina, Napoli—where he won the Serie A title in 2023 under Luciano Spalletti—and Atalanta again, Gollini returned to the Bergamo club before the Genoa loan that preceded his Roma move was terminated. Gasperini expressed confidence in Gollini's readiness, saying: "He's an excellent second goalkeeper and now will have the opportunity to play with continuity. He's always trained well and must have everyone's confidence." Forza Roma notes that doctors are still deciding whether to insert a screw into Svilar's foot, which could extend his recovery timeline further. Additional squad absences include Bryan Cristante, sidelined by knee injury, and defender Konstantinos Koulierakis, ruled out for Como with a contusion suffered on international duty, though he is expected to return to training on Monday.
AI synthesis of all sources below — always check the originals.
Testo Originale / Source Text
“Alla vigilia di Como-Roma, gara in programma domenica 11 ottobre alle 12:30 allo stadio Sinigaglia, Gian Piero Gasperini interviene in conferenza stampa da Trigoria per presentare la sfida contro la squadra di Cesc Fabregas. Il tecnico giallorosso farà il punto sulle condizioni della squadra, sulle…”
Read the full article in Italian at GialloRossi.net.