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Gasperini warns against complacency before Manchester United clash; Malen in record form

Gasperini warns against complacency before Manchester United clash; Malen in record form

Source: GialloRossi.net

Gian Piero Gasperini has warned his Roma side not to underestimate Manchester United ahead of the Champions League tie, despite the English club's poor run of results. On injuries, Paulo Dybala, Manu Koné and Mile Svilar are unlikely to return before the international break, although there remains a chance for the Sassuolo fixture. Rodrigo Mora is available, but team selection will be decided at the last moment. Donyell Malen is enjoying a remarkable spell: he has scored 22 goals in 27 Serie A matches in the calendar year, more than Harry Kane, Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland in their respective leagues. No player has scored more than him across Europe's top five leagues in that period, a transformation the article credits to his work under Gasperini.

At Manchester United, Michael Carrick has gone nine matches without a win, and his position is increasingly under pressure. United were beaten 4-1 by Como, coached by Fabregas, a result that exposed gaps between midfield and defence. Nico Paz took advantage with two goals and an assist, and Roma's Matías Soulé, Rodrigo Mora and Donyell Malen are considered capable of exploiting the same weakness. Carrick has rejected the idea that he will be dismissed after the Roma game, saying: “Non penso che sarà così” (“I don't think that will be the case”). Dorgu and Luke Shaw are confirmed absent, while Marcus Rashford is doubtful. Carrick also recalled United's 7-1 win of 2007, calling it “una delle notti più belle della mia carriera” (“one of the best nights of my career”).

Marten de Roon acknowledged the mistakes Roma made against Real Madrid, saying the side was immature in that match but is still developing. He said: “Vogliamo dare continuità alle prestazioni” (“We want to give continuity to our performances”). He also thanked supporters, adding: “Mi ha fatto piacere essere applaudito contro il Cagliari” (“It was nice to be applauded against Cagliari”). Elsewhere, Turkish press report that Greenwood had a tense exchange with Fenerbahçe president Yıldırım, asking his father and agent to find him another club. The bust-up followed his controversial omission against Göztepe. There has been no official rupture, and the club has attributed the absence to a flu-like illness.

On the transfer front, Roma are reportedly monitoring Gabriel Sara, the Brazilian born in 1999 who plays for Galatasaray, with a view to a January move. Napoli, Newcastle and Everton are also said to be interested, with the English clubs reportedly ready to spend around €30 million, though only interest has been confirmed so far. Meanwhile, former Roma coach Fonseca is close to leaving Lyon to return to Portugal with Sporting. He broke down in tears after Lyon's win over Angers, embraced by his players. An agreement with Sporting is reportedly close but not yet official. If it goes through, Fonseca will face Roma as an opponent on 8 December in the Champions League.

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Testo Originale / Source Text

“Alla vigilia della Champions, Gasperini avverte la Roma e frena sugli infortunati. Malen firma numeri da primato, mentre il mercato riporta in primo piano Greenwood e Gabriel Sara. Intanto lo United cerca la svolta e Fonseca si avvicina allo Sporting. Ecco le notizie più importanti di lunedì 2…”

Read the full article in Italian at GialloRossi.net.

Read original on GialloRossi.net →

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Roma face Manchester United at Old Trafford tomorrow evening at 21:00 in the fourth matchday of the Champions League League Phase. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini spoke at his press conference ahead of the match, warning his side not to be distracted by United's difficulties. He said: "We must not be distracted by their difficulties. I am dreaming short-term, at this moment the dream is to put in a great performance here, and I hope it is achievable." Alongside the Roma boss, midfielder Marten de Roon addressed the media. He said: "We want to give continuity, I am happy to be able to lend a hand." Asked about the supporters, he added: "I was happy about the applause against Cagliari." His remark that "the boss is unique" drew an amused reaction from Gasperini. In training, Balerdi and Cristante wore conspicuous knee strapping. If the Argentine starts on the bench, Cristante will start in the wide midfield position. Mancini and Lulli return to the starting line-up. Roma's attention now turns to Old Trafford, where a performance of quality is the stated aim for the coach and his players.

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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."

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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.

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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."

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Roma travel to Manchester United tomorrow at 21:00 for matchday four of the Champions League league phase, with Gian Piero Gasperini's side arriving in the best form of the season after a five-goal win over Udinese. Svilar, Koné and Dybala will all miss the fixture. Gasperini was speaking at his pre-match press conference, where he also addressed the situation at Old Trafford. Asked what to expect, he said: "Manchester in the league is going through a difficult moment in their results, but we cannot be distracted. In any case it is a strong team, there are players of absolute value, it is a warm and difficult environment. We are preparing as if we were facing the best Manchester." On the question of perfection, he replied: "Perfection does not exist for the very big teams, and not for us either. Our quality is that we always try to improve, we know our characteristics but we know that in some situations we can do better." Asked about his dream at Old Trafford, the "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 the main difficulties, he said: "If you are missing Pellegrini, Dybala and Koné in the same departments, we try to adapt a little at certain moments. We have the alternative of Castro with Malen, in midfield we are short. I hope it is a moment of transition. We have played these seven matches on a knife's edge. But we have always had prepared players who have recovered quickly. Mora? He is well, the 17 who are here are all ready. After the break we hope to get everyone back. It is difficult this week." Gasperini praised Lulli's management of the defence, adding: "In that department 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." He also acknowledged his own reputation in England and his time at Inter, saying: "Every situation is different. I do not know the Manchester situation precisely, but they have strong players. You can suffer for a period, but then you can restart, hopefully from the day after tomorrow. At Inter I was really there far too little, three matches, so I would not make that comparison." Speaking to Sky, Gasperini said: "We will have to see from the results. The last time it went better, the previous day not well for the Italian clubs. The Italian championship is expressing a good quality of play, with many teams giving satisfaction to their fans and many good matches." On Manchester United's struggles, he said: "We hope so, but it is always a big unknown. They are teams made up of very strong players, who in the league especially have had difficulties. But you can always expect reactions and the ability to find that road they have not found so far. We hope the opposite and to accentuate their difficulties." On whether Mora or three midfielders will start, Gasperini said: "We'll see. We play in such a pressing way between one match and the next that we have to wait until the last day to decide." On Svilar, Koné and Dybala, he added: "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 for Sassuolo or after the break."

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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.

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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."

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6h ago

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

Roma travel to Manchester United tomorrow at 21:00 for matchday four of the Champions League league phase, with Gian Piero Gasperini's side arriving in the best form of the season after a five-goal win over Udinese. Svilar, Koné and Dybala will all miss the fixture. Gasperini was speaking at his pre-match press conference, where he also addressed the situation at Old Trafford. Asked what to expect, he said: "Manchester in the league is going through a difficult moment in their results, but we cannot be distracted. In any case it is a strong team, there are players of absolute value, it is a warm and difficult environment. We are preparing as if we were facing the best Manchester." On the question of perfection, he replied: "Perfection does not exist for the very big teams, and not for us either. Our quality is that we always try to improve, we know our characteristics but we know that in some situations we can do better." Asked about his dream at Old Trafford, the "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 the main difficulties, he said: "If you are missing Pellegrini, Dybala and Koné in the same departments, we try to adapt a little at certain moments. We have the alternative of Castro with Malen, in midfield we are short. I hope it is a moment of transition. We have played these seven matches on a knife's edge. But we have always had prepared players who have recovered quickly. Mora? He is well, the 17 who are here are all ready. After the break we hope to get everyone back. It is difficult this week." Gasperini praised Lulli's management of the defence, adding: "In that department 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." He also acknowledged his own reputation in England and his time at Inter, saying: "Every situation is different. I do not know the Manchester situation precisely, but they have strong players. You can suffer for a period, but then you can restart, hopefully from the day after tomorrow. At Inter I was really there far too little, three matches, so I would not make that comparison." Speaking to Sky, Gasperini said: "We will have to see from the results. The last time it went better, the previous day not well for the Italian clubs. The Italian championship is expressing a good quality of play, with many teams giving satisfaction to their fans and many good matches." On Manchester United's struggles, he said: "We hope so, but it is always a big unknown. They are teams made up of very strong players, who in the league especially have had difficulties. But you can always expect reactions and the ability to find that road they have not found so far. We hope the opposite and to accentuate their difficulties." On whether Mora or three midfielders will start, Gasperini said: "We'll see. We play in such a pressing way between one match and the next that we have to wait until the last day to decide." On Svilar, Koné and Dybala, he added: "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 for Sassuolo or after the break."

Diallo and Mora: the talent in the smaller frame as Manchester United face Roma
Match ReportEurope● AI
9h ago

Diallo and Mora: the talent in the smaller frame as Manchester United face Roma

Manchester United and Roma meet at Old Trafford in matchday four of the Champions League league phase, with the two sides looking to Amad Diallo and Rodrigo Mora to provide the spark behind their strikers. Roma have four points so far, while United have three, and are coming off a nightmare start to the Premier League season with Carrick's position as head coach increasingly under pressure. Diallo is one of the most unpredictable players in the United squad. The Ivorian was given his break by Gasperini at Atalanta, and he likes to start on the right before cutting inside onto his left foot, though he can also play more centrally and look for quick combinations with team-mates in the final third. In the Premier League this season he has made four appearances, all starts, for just over 300 minutes, without a goal or an assist. In the Champions League he has already provided one assist in two appearances. His attacking output is not yet at the level of his best seasons, but he remains capable of creating overloads with his dribbling and attacking the space behind the defensive line. Diallo is still doubtful because of a muscle problem, but if he recovers he could be one of United's main sources of unpredictability against Roma. Rodrigo Mora, who is younger, has already earned an important role in Gasperini's Roma and is enjoying a much more productive start in front of goal. The Portuguese, born in 2007, can play as an attacking midfielder, start from a wider position or drop deeper to help build play, using his close control, quick thinking and quality in the final pass. In Serie A he has made eight appearances, four of them starts, for 333 minutes, scoring three goals. He has also taken 11 shots in total, six on target, and made eight key passes, with a passing accuracy of 85%. In the Champions League he has played three matches for 150 minutes and has recorded one assist. The duel between the two left-footed, technical and creative players is therefore a contrast in styles: Diallo prefers the burst and the one-on-one, while Mora has so far shown greater end-product in the final third and a natural ability to find the net.

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