Gasperini warns fixture congestion demands squad depth as Roma face Genoa

Donyell Malen has established himself as one of Roma's standout performers in the early stages of the 2026–27 season, scoring goals with consistency and forging an immediate understanding with Paulo Dybala. In an interview with Corriere dello Sport, the Dutch forward reflected on his rapid adaptation to the club, his decision to leave Aston Villa, and the intensity of Gasperini's training methods. Malen explained that he chose to depart Aston Villa because he wanted to play every Sunday, stating: "I was the one who wanted to leave Aston Villa. I wanted to play every Sunday, it is important. I believe I made the right choice." His partnership with Dybala has flourished from the outset. "There is a connection, it is funny, I saw it on the internet. We have a football bond, football does not need the same language. From the first training session we got on well, it is both that I am good at moving and he is good at giving me the ball at the right times, we try to make the game engaging." Malen also scored a hat-trick on his opening appearance for the club and netted a double against Real Madrid. When asked what struck him most about Roma, Malen answered: "What struck me about Roma are the fans and my teammates. We all have the ambition to take the club to success, and that touched me deeply. It is a great club with extraordinary people." On Gasperini's demanding training philosophy, he acknowledged the difficulty without exaggeration: "Gasperini's training sessions are difficult, but I have never vomited. That is why I learned the word 'tired', I must say so. Sometimes it is really too much, it is hard training. However, it is good for the squad, we are all fit. We push ourselves, we train as we play." Malen is learning Italian and has absorbed key football terminology: 'Donyell', 'difficult', 'tired', 'very', 'hot', 'good', 'brave', 'penalty', 'referee', 'offside'. He praised several teammates—Niccolò Pisilli, Matías Soulé, Devyne Rensch and Manu Koné—as strong players with their own strengths. Malen expressed confidence in Roma's prospects, saying: "I have scored a hat-trick on my first appearance, I think we are very strong. We did not beat Inter by little, I think we can do something great." He also noted the tactical differences between Italian and English football: "Here the climate is different, it is very hot. In England it is cold and rains a lot. The philosophy is different too, teams are organized differently. Here there is more tactics, some teams defend in a block and it is difficult to penetrate them. In England they play more freely, they leave open space."

Gasperini provided an injury update on midfielder Manu Koné, confirming a first-degree lesion and expressing hope that the player will be available for the Sassuolo match. The coach also addressed Paulo Dybala's fitness, reporting calf fatigue and targeting his return for the following week. Koné sustained the injury during Roma's recent action and the first-degree classification suggests a minor soft-tissue problem. Dybala's calf complaint is also not expected to sideline him for long, with Gasperini confident of having him back within seven days.

Roma face Genoa on 17 October at 20:45 at the Olimpico, two days after their Champions League defeat to Real Madrid. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini provided an injury update at his pre-match press conference, confirming that Manu Koné has a first-degree muscle strain. "Koné had an MRI scan, he has a first-degree lesion that is not particularly significant," Gasperini said. "Clearly it takes the necessary time, we hope to recover him perhaps with Sassuolo a bit before the break." Paulo Dybala is sidelined by calf fatigue but is expected to return within the week. "There is nothing particular with Dybala, it is fatigue on the calf muscle and we hope to recover him next week," the coach added. Gasperini confirmed that Santiago Castro will start in attack in place of the injured Donyell Malen, and indicated Lorenzo Pellegrini could drop into midfield to manage the fixture congestion. Bryan Cristante is also being assessed and could return against Napoli or shortly after. "Castro did not play in the last two matches—at Como because we were down to ten men and the other evening because of how the match unfolded," Gasperini explained. "But he is a player of value, he has already played our championship and done so very well. Tomorrow is a good opportunity for him." Gasperini reflected on Roma's recent form despite the Real Madrid loss, saying: "We come out of these three matches reinforced in the idea that, if nothing particular happens, we can compete with them." He acknowledged the psychological impact of conceding three goals in the comeback against Real but stressed it was not a physical issue. "The setback exists, there certainly was one after the 3-2," he said. "It is something to work on and remedy, especially because this squad should not feel the need to necessarily win the Champions League or the title." With four matches in ten days approaching, Gasperini warned that squad depth will be essential. "With this calendar we cannot always play without changing the squad or making substitutions," he said. "We must necessarily broaden the squad; someone like Castro, Rodrigo Mora or others who will play need to acquire the same confidence and strength." He also hinted that academy players may feature: "For us tomorrow is the third match in seven days and Tuesday will be the fourth in ten. Either we adapt or we suffer. What worries me is that we will have few substitutes; in the 90 minutes in some position a youth player could even make his debut."

Donyell Malen has established himself as one of Roma's standout performers in the early stages of the 2026–27 season, scoring goals with consistency and forging an immediate understanding with Paulo Dybala. In an interview with Corriere dello Sport, the Dutch forward reflected on his rapid adaptation to the club, his decision to leave Aston Villa, and the intensity of Gasperini's training methods. Malen explained that he chose to depart Aston Villa because he wanted to play every Sunday, stating: "I was the one who wanted to leave Aston Villa. I wanted to play every Sunday, it is important. I believe I made the right choice." His partnership with Dybala has flourished from the outset. "There is a connection, it is funny, I saw it on the internet. We have a football bond, football does not need the same language. From the first training session we got on well, it is both that I am good at moving and he is good at giving me the ball at the right times, we try to make the game engaging." Malen also scored a hat-trick on his opening appearance for the club and netted a double against Real Madrid. When asked what struck him most about Roma, Malen answered: "What struck me about Roma are the fans and my teammates. We all have the ambition to take the club to success, and that touched me deeply. It is a great club with extraordinary people." On Gasperini's demanding training philosophy, he acknowledged the difficulty without exaggeration: "Gasperini's training sessions are difficult, but I have never vomited. That is why I learned the word 'tired', I must say so. Sometimes it is really too much, it is hard training. However, it is good for the squad, we are all fit. We push ourselves, we train as we play." Malen is learning Italian and has absorbed key football terminology: 'Donyell', 'difficult', 'tired', 'very', 'hot', 'good', 'brave', 'penalty', 'referee', 'offside'. He praised several teammates—Niccolò Pisilli, Matías Soulé, Devyne Rensch and Manu Koné—as strong players with their own strengths. Malen expressed confidence in Roma's prospects, saying: "I have scored a hat-trick on my first appearance, I think we are very strong. We did not beat Inter by little, I think we can do something great." He also noted the tactical differences between Italian and English football: "Here the climate is different, it is very hot. In England it is cold and rains a lot. The philosophy is different too, teams are organized differently. Here there is more tactics, some teams defend in a block and it is difficult to penetrate them. In England they play more freely, they leave open space."

Gian Piero Gasperini has few selection dilemmas for Roma's match against Genoa, with absences forcing his hand in midfield and attack. Leonardo Balerdi is set to start in defence, while Matías Soulé and Rodrigo Mora will operate behind Santiago Castro in the forward line. The Roma manager is without Mile Svilar, Bryan Cristante, Manu Koné and Paulo Dybala through injury or unavailability, and Donyell Malen serves a suspension. Emanuele Lulli is also in line for a starting berth as Roma manage their personnel constraints.

Roma face Genoa on Sunday aiming to bounce back from a 4-3 Champions League defeat to Real Madrid that ended their 14-game unbeaten run this season. Donyell Malen scored twice in the second half to give Roma a 3-1 lead against Real Madrid on Wednesday, but conceding three goals in seven minutes proved costly and cost Roma their perfect Serie A home record. Genoa arrive at the Olimpico in high spirits after beating Fiorentina 2-1 last weekend with two goals in the opening 15 minutes, securing their first league win of the season after one draw and four losses. De Rossi, who managed Roma from 2024 to 2025 and again in 2019, now leads Genoa, the club where he played before retiring. Genoa have suffered just one defeat in their last 40 Serie A home matches, but have not won at the Olimpico since 1990. Roma's defensive solidity will be under scrutiny after conceding multiple goals in two of their last three competitive outings. A victory would bring Roma to 17 points from seven Serie A rounds for the first time since 2014–15. The Giallorossi have not lost any of their last 15 league matches at home, with 11 wins and four draws, and have been historically dominant against Genoa on home turf, losing just once in their last 40 top-flight clashes at the Olimpico (33 wins, 6 draws). However, a 3-1 loss at the Marassi in their last Serie A meeting should serve as a warning. Malen's absence is significant: the Dutch forward has scored six of Roma's 14 league goals this season, accounting for nearly 43% of their total. Genoa summer signing Milutin Osmajic continued his strong start with a goal against Fiorentina, his third of the season, and has scored 60% of Genoa's Serie A goals in 2026–27. Former Roma forward Stephan El Shaarawy poses an additional threat. Genoa have conceded at least once in their last six top-flight encounters and failed to keep a clean sheet across their last three Serie A away trips, including a 2–1 defeat at Parma. Roma will be without Malen, who must serve a one-game suspension, goalkeeper Mile Svilar, and midfielder Manu Koné, who suffered a muscle strain against Real Madrid. Niccolò Pisilli, who replaced Koné in that match, could return to the starting lineup in place of Bryan Cristante. Paulo Dybala is also a doubt. Genoa must manage without Lorenzo Colombo, Djibril Sow, Elias Havel, Ethan Meichtry, and Lorenzo Venturino, though Junior Messias, who scored in last season's home win over Roma, will join Osmajic in attack after netting against Fiorentina. Roma are predicted to extend their proud home record and secure victory, though a universe exists in which De Rossi leads Genoa to their first Serie A win at the Olimpico since the early 1990s.