Match ReportPress Conference● AI
17h agoGasperini under fire after Old Trafford collapse, with Mora's role debated
Gian Piero Gasperini is facing a barrage of criticism after Roma squandered a two-goal lead and lost 3-2 at Manchester United in the Champions League, with the coach's decisions, substitutions and tactical handling of the second half all called into question. The defeat was Roma's second of the season, following their first loss in the Champions League, and it came after they had also thrown away a two-goal advantage against Inter and Real Madrid. Roma have scored six goals in those three matches yet have taken only one point from them, the draw against Chivu's Inter, while Mourinho's and Carrick's sides took three points each. The article also recalls the 3-1 lead against Juventus last season that became a 3-3 draw.
The critique is seen as legitimate, though the article argues the debate needs to go deeper. Gasperini has already responded that the comebacks were different but share similar ingredients: Roma often conceded immediately after half-time rather than only after returning to the field with a lead. That happened at Manchester, unlike against Real Madrid at the Olimpico, where three goals were conceded at the death. The article argues the problem is mental rather than technical: when Roma concede, they seem to switch off from the match. Balerdi's misplaced pass at Old Trafford is cited as the latest confirmation. Roma have been unbeaten in Serie A for seven months.
The article criticises the handling of the match itself. Two halves cannot be played at the same intensity, and the substitutions made were questioned, particularly with Rensch already off in the first half, which meant the team had to pay attention to the wing-back slots too. Individual errors were highlighted, along with changes that saw two of three central defenders replaced, which would have unbalanced the back line. The article notes that the player who stayed on as the least tired, and arguably the best of the night, was the one who went on to err on United's second and third goals. Gasperini admitted a drop-off after the break and a lack of clarity, but did not mention absences. The article argues that Svilar, Koné and Dybala's absences do affect results, and points out that a fourth goalkeeper played, with De Marzi the third choice, a player who was outside the squad list until a month ago. Gasperini described the penalty awarded to Manchester as a "rigorino" (a soft penalty) without criticising the silent VAR over Mancini's foul, or the VAR who was quick to flag Cristante's encroachment for the retaken penalty. He did not protest about Maguire escaping a red card, already booked earlier, for his foul on Castro. He also did not address Rosetti, who had assigned the same referee, Spaniard Gil Manzano, for the first two Champions League away trips, a referee already criticised after Istanbul. Gasperini admitted the lesson would help, saying: "in Europa il percorso da fare è ancora lungo" ("in Europe the road ahead is still long"). The article concludes that Roma are not yet competitive at these levels.
The most significant criticism, the article argues, is inconsistent: Gasperini was faulted for leaving Mora in the dressing room at half-time, which the article calls the coach's main error in England. Only days ago, the Portuguese's signing had been considered the worst mistake of the last transfer window. The article describes Rodrigo Mora as low, useless and expensive, someone who would struggle to become a starter at Roma. Today he plays in place of Dybala, is decisive, and drops onto the flank when needed, as at Manchester. The article sums up the shift as out of role yet suddenly fundamental.
