Hermoso: Director handles new signings; we focus on what Gasperini demands

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.

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.

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."

Roma radio pundits split on whether Gian Piero Gasperini should keep Gianluca Mancini in the back three or give the starting role to Daniele Ghilardi, while also discussing Manchester United's slump ahead of the Champions League meeting. David Rossi of Rete Sport argued that Ghilardi should play, saying: "Ghilardi deve giocare, non Mancini, sia per un discorso difensivo che offensivo." He pointed to Ghilardi's recent form, with two goals in the last two matches, one of them disallowed, and a decisive assist against Cagliari, adding that he had been the best player on the pitch at Lecce. Rossi said Mancini's continued selection was a dressing-room decision, noting that Gasperini had asked for new contracts for Lorenzo Pellegrini and Paulo Dybala. The debate sits against a strong run for the club. Roma have six matches in a row behind them and have reached the seventh game of a run of nine, which Lorenzo Pes noted with a squad stretched thin. Pes also pointed out that against the same opponents as last season, Roma have seven more points this year. Fabio Petruzzi of Rete Sport said the team was showing strong attitude and that Roma were clearly superior to recent years, adding: "non bisogna aver timore di pensare alla vittoria del titolo." Mario Corsi of Tele Radio Stereo argued that either Roma or Inter would win the Scudetto, and that a stadium project and a Scudetto would make the Friedkins historic. On team selection, Gianluca Piacentini expected some rotation, with Marten de Roon expected to start because he is due at the press conference, and Niccolò Pisilli seen taking Rodrigo Mora's place. Piacentini said Wesley would not play if Gasperini had seen his social media activity. Pes saw Leonardo Balerdi starting in place of Mario Hermoso, with Devyne Rensch as a card the fans underestimate, and expected the three midfielders to return with Mora coming on during the game. Corsi also argued that Bryan Cristante had become more important than Manu Koné. On Manchester United, Roberto Pruzzo said: "Lo United ha staccato la spina", describing them as weakened and unable to motivate anyone under former player Carrick, and calling it an opportunity to exploit. Nando Orsi warned that Old Trafford is always difficult, saying: "Non so se è sicura la vittoria della Roma." Mario Mattioli added that the team must take the game seriously, that entering Old Trafford is intimidating, and that Roma should avoid thinking only of avenging the seven goals conceded. Piero Torri said a win at Manchester would put Roma three-quarters of the way towards a play-off place, while noting that Inter depend heavily on Lautaro Martínez. The programme also covered refereeing controversies, including a revoked penalty in Como-Venezia that Alessio Nardo called inexplicable, and a player struck in the face in Lazio-Cagliari. Roma's next match is the trip to Manchester United in the Champions League.

Roma's strong start to the season has drawn praise from several voices on Rome's radio stations, who are looking ahead to the Champions League trip to Manchester United. Francesca Ferrazza of Tele Radio Stereo 92.7 said: "The Friedkins are a very strange personality, and even Gasperini doesn't quite understand what kind of reasoning they follow from an emotional point of view. From a financial point of view, though, we've understood very well: they tend to keep things tight. I don't know if this pride in being able to enter Roma's history can work, but let's hope so. Because if you can't bring home a Scudetto even this year, you really enter a state of frustration, because this is a league where everyone is waiting for you and they compete to see who makes the most mistakes." Antonio Felici, also on Tele Radio Stereo 92.7, said: "If the chance comes along, you have to seize it in a flash. Some have been lucky, like Napoli in recent years. In my view Roma must believe in themselves, and they have many reasons to. The team is strong and when they attack they are frightening. They have some lapses, but they convince. And they play the best football in Italy. We saw it against Inter, and against Como when they were down to ten men, and I had the feeling Roma were stronger. So they must believe. At the moment, there is no team stronger than Roma." Francesco Balzani, also on Tele Radio Stereo 92.7, said: "In the first half Roma could have been 6-0 up. The match was effectively over there. People always say Roma's opponents are weak, but this season I have never seen a team get on top of Roma. Against Udinese Gasperini's side switched off, partly because they already had their minds on Manchester. So far they are the only team that has truly convinced me. Inter have more experience and quality, but Roma are closing the gap. This year they must try and believe: Serie A can be won. However, in January they will need a little help from the Friedkins. The atmosphere is united: I see no internal obstacles." Lorenzo Pes, also on Tele Radio Stereo 92.7, said: "In this run of matches there is one statistic: against the same opponents as last season, Roma have seven more points this year. Roma have reached the seventh match of a run of nine, and they are arriving with a limited number of players. Lulli and Balerdi starting tomorrow? I see Balerdi starting in place of Hermoso, and for Lulli I have more reserves. It is true he did not play in Udine, but there is always the Rensch card, which many underrate, and Gasp has shown that he trusts him. I expect the return of the three midfielders, with Mora coming on during the match..." Piero Torri, on Radio Manà Manà Sport 90.9, said: "At Old Trafford you never go in as favourites, because of history and tradition. Manchester are better than the league table suggests, and their first half against Chelsea on Sunday confirms it. I hope Zirkzee doesn't play." Roberto Pruzzo, on Radio Radio Mattino 104.5, said: "Manchester United look like a second-tier side. Against Como they played very badly; it's a team that has pulled the plug. But Roma must not think they are stronger than United. Cristante has recovered fully, and in the spaces there is no comparison. There are prospects of continuing as we have in the league." Nando Orsi, also on Radio Radio Mattino 104.5, said: "It is the best moment to face Manchester, but I don't know... they could find their best form and not lose. This is the best moment, but you always play United at Old Trafford: you must not take it lightly, you must always produce a great match. On the win, I don't know if you can be sure: Manchester are in crisis, so Roma have to win."

Roma travel to Old Trafford for tomorrow evening's Champions League clash against Manchester United, a fixture that could shape their route towards the play-offs. Il Messaggero reports that Roma have struggled at this ground, losing all four previous visits, some by heavy margins. This time, though, the picture is different: Manchester United are third from bottom in the Premier League and going through a difficult spell, and English fans on social media fear another heavy defeat. Gian Piero Gasperini is not underestimating the opponent, however, and has to deal with several injuries. Paulo Dybala, Manu Koné and Mile Svilar will all miss the match. Dybala and Koné will try to recover for the Sassuolo fixture, while Svilar will not return until after the international break. Gollini is expected to continue in goal, having previously worn the Manchester United shirt. In defence, Evan N'Dicka, the returning Gianluca Mancini and one of Leonardo Balerdi or Mario Hermoso are set to start. Cristante and De Roon will form the midfield pairing. Wesley, closely watched by English scouts, is set to operate on the left, while the right-hand position remains an open contest. Without Dybala, Malen leads the attack: he has three goals and two assists in three European matches, and is eager to perform at a stadium where he previously played a few minutes for Aston Villa. Soulé will partner him, while the final place in the front three is between Mora, who is improving, and Pisilli, who wants to win back his place after resting in Udine. Roma finished their previous match in Udine strongly, and the squad now travels to England to prepare for the Champions League tie against Manchester United. The Old Trafford game is the first of the two visits, and the result is expected to weigh heavily on Roma's chances of reaching the play-offs.