Gasperini to skip pre-match press conference ahead of Napoli clash

Gian Piero Gasperini will not hold his usual press conference on the eve of Roma's Serie A trip to Napoli, the Giallorossi boss has confirmed through the club's routine. The match, the eighth round of Serie A, takes place at the Maradona on Saturday 24 October at 18:00. Gasperini took part in the press conferences ahead of the Genoa and Slovan Bratislava fixtures, but he will not attend the pre-match briefing for this league game. As he did last season, the Roma coach is skipping the conference because his side played in Europe during the week. Napoli's head coach Allegri, by contrast, will speak to the media as normal tomorrow at 12:30.

Roma head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has been named the winner of the 5th edition of the "Un cuore da leone" award, set up by Stelle nello Sport to honour the memory of sports journalist Gian Luigi Corti. Gasperini beat other prominent figures in Italian sport, including Arianna Fontana, Gregorio Paltrinieri, Ambra Sabatini and Nicolò Martinenghi. The award goes each year to a figure who refuses to give in to difficulties and who sees in every uphill climb a new chance to win. It is the latest recognition for Gasperini, who was appointed Roma head coach in 2025. Michele Corti, president of Stelle nello Sport, praised the coach: "Gian Piero Gasperini is not only a coach: he is the architect of a football dream that has become reality." The award will be presented on Sunday 8 November in Genoa, during Stelle nello Sport's traditional Charity Event in support of the Fondazione Gigi Ghirotti, at the Porto Antico.

Daniele Ghilardi made his first career start in the Champions League last night, delivering a very convincing performance for Roma. Ghilardi also provided the assist that unlocked the match. The defender's display comes as reports had suggested a possible January sale, although Roma have no intention of letting him go, according to the article's reporting on the situation. Roma have collected four points from nine so far this season. Asked whether that record feels short of what the team has shown, Ghilardi said: "If it feels short I don't know, because away from home we managed to get a point, which was not easy. Today we won, and last game unfortunately we know how it went, but the performance was there. We will keep trying to pick up points to position ourselves in the best place in the table." On whether the team has reached its definitive mental edge for the campaign or needs the Napoli game, he replied: "No, we approach the match the same way whether it is Real Madrid or Bratislava. We give our all and try to win because that is our aim. We hope to keep going like this." Asked about his Champions League debut, Ghilardi said: "I am happy, I was emotional at the end of the match, then I melted. I am happy it went that way, with the assist that unlocked the game. We hope to keep going like this." Asked what he is working on most compared with last year, he said: "Everything: heading, speed, one-on-one duels. We work on everything to improve because I can improve in so many areas. We do it in training and I hope it shows on the pitch."