Graziani on Mourinho's return and Gasperini's Roma project ahead of Inter clash

Christian Vieri has praised Gian Piero Gasperini's start as Roma head coach, saying the club must heed his guidance if they are to achieve their ambitions. Roma have collected 12 points from four matches with 12 goals scored and only one conceded—a record Vieri views as evidence of Gasperini's tactical impact. The side face Inter on Saturday in what Vieri calls "the first real test of the season", followed by a home fixture against Real Madrid at the Olimpico. Vieri told Adnkronos: "He has made a very very good start, with 12 points in four matches. Gasperini's work is visible; he is one of the greatest coaches in the world, so if the club listens to him, he can take Roma high." The former striker also praised Paulo Dybala as "always the number one, a great striker", and expressed confidence that Gasperini will prepare the team correctly for the challenges ahead. Of the Madrid visit, Vieri said: "It will be a cauldron", and predicted that Gasperini "will get his players to a thousand, it will be a beautiful match to watch."

Ciccio Graziani, Roma's 1983 Scudetto-winning striker and current television pundit, praised the club's strong start to the season in an interview with Il Tempo, highlighting the depth of the squad and the impact of head coach Gian Piero Gasperini's summer work. "I am very happy with what I am seeing," Graziani said. "The squad is strong and compared to the past has an important bench, almost of the same value as the starters. This allows the coach to manage forces and the many commitments best." He refrained from naming specific targets, saying: "We are only at the beginning of the season and it would be madness to give objectives. However, if the morning shows the day, there will be fun to be had. Then, football like life has unpredictable variables, anything can always happen." Graziani singled out Donyell Malen for praise, calling him an exceptional talent. "At Roma an attacker like this has not been seen for a long time. He is physically strong and technically good. I do not understand why in his national team they do not make him play in the area of the field most suited to him, exactly in the position that coach Gasperini gives him. It is madness not to make the most of his undoubted qualities." He also commended Gasperini's partnership with D'Amico, saying: "After the long and satisfying experience at Atalanta, he chose Roma and arrived with great desire to prove himself. Last season he was good at building, this summer he worked very well to strengthen the squad and the results are showing. I believe the arrival of D'Amico was decisive. The two know each other perfectly and have already shown they are a couple capable of building teams of level." Graziani acknowledged the upcoming challenge against Inter on Saturday, calling it "a great match, between two teams that so far have not lost a beat," though he added it would not be decisive given how early in the season it comes. He also reflected on the approaching European fixture against Real Madrid at the Stadio Olimpico, where José Mourinho will return, describing him as "a fantastic coach" whose departure upset him greatly.

Roma's radio pundits debated team selection and tactical approach ahead of Saturday's Serie A fixture against Inter, with analysis focusing on defensive pairing options, squad depth, and whether Gasperini will prioritise attacking over caution. The debate centred on whether Evan N'Dicka or Leonardo Balerdi would start against Inter's attack, with Lorenzo Pes (Tele Radio Stereo 92.7) weighing both options: "I think we're at 50–50. The choice in my view is the physical one: I think Thuram will play with Lautaro and N'Dicka in tight marking could have an advantage from a structural standpoint, but Balerdi in my view can hold his own against anyone. The doubt is there. In my opinion N'Dicka is slightly ahead, also for his knowledge of the defensive unit." Commentators highlighted Roma's improvement since last season and positioned the club as favourites. Gianni Visnadi (Radio Radio Mattino 104.5) said: "Roma has continuity on its side, it has built on what was done last year. Gasperini says the players are limited in number, but that does not seem so to me. Perhaps he would have liked the Greenwood of June, but this is fine too. Roma is stronger than last year and stronger than Juventus." Stefano Agresti (Radio Radio Mattino 104.5) added: "Roma is a concrete squad built with a logic, alongside important investments. Juventus is inferior to Roma in every department." Piero Torri (Radio Manà Manà Sport Roma 90.9) offered the tactical assessment that shaped the headline: "For me a great squad never adapts to opponents but always imposes its way of playing. Pisilli as a trequartista behind Dybala and Malen could be a move to try to surprise Inter, but in my view the squad is used to playing in a certain manner. It seems to me that all four midfielders are in decent shape so it could be done. But I have the impression that Gasp is not of this idea—I think he can always go with 1–2 or 2–1 in attack to embarrass Inter's defence, which is not that solid. On the counter Inter can really hurt you. I think Gasperini wants to go more to hurt Inter rather than think about not getting hurt. It is right that in a strong squad there are more contests in multiple departments—when there is competition within the squad it is good for everyone. I hope the Argentines come back healthy from their international duties, actually thank goodness they did not remember Dybala." Roberto Pruzzo (Radio Radio Mattino 104.5) noted Roma had secured identity by the fifth matchday and the international break: "Roma is consolidated in the base formation, can rotate a defender or a full-back but Roma is this and it is a guarantee. It arrives at the fifth of the championship and the break with identity, those two up front are beyond question."