Koné and Dybala close to return ahead of Sassuolo; Vásquez likely in goal

Devyne Rensch has suffered a mild tear to his right adductor during Roma's Champions League defeat at Manchester United, according to Sky Sport, and the Dutch full-back is expected to be sidelined for around three weeks. The 22-minute withdrawal at Old Trafford saw Lulli come on in his place. The problem means Rensch will miss Roma's next Serie A fixture against Sassuolo on Saturday evening at the Olimpico. He may only return after the international break, depending on how the injury progresses. The absence further complicates the plans of Gian Piero Gasperini, who is already without Dybala, Koné and Svilar through injury. Gasperini must now do without another option on the flanks just as Roma prepare for their final match before the break. The pause offers a valuable chance to clear, at least in part, the club's injury list.

Roma have suffered another defensive setback as Devyne Rensch has sustained a slight tear to the adductor muscle in his right thigh, Gian Piero Gasperini's side confirmed after the Dutch full-back underwent scans. The injury came during Roma's demanding Champions League trip to Manchester United, where Rensch came on at Old Trafford before being forced off in the 21st minute to make way for Lulli. The defender is expected to be sidelined for around three weeks, meaning he will miss Roma's upcoming official fixtures. He will definitely miss the home Serie A match against Sassuolo at the Stadio Olimpico and the away trip to Parma on the return from the international break. The medical staff's aim is to get him back in time for the high-profile Champions League clash away to PSG on 25 November, or for the home match against Monza. Rensch's absence reduces Gasperini's options on the flanks. In the short term, the coach will lean heavily on Wesley França and Molina, while also considering a full return to action for the club's young players to help cover the emergency at full-back.

Roma are reportedly ready to exercise their option to buy Leonardo Balerdi from Marseille, with a fee of between 11 and 14 million euros depending on his number of appearances of at least 45 minutes this season. Balerdi was one of the standout figures in the 3-2 Champions League defeat at Manchester United at Old Trafford, playing very well for around 80 minutes before a costly error: he miscuffed a clearance, allowing Cunha to equalise and make it 2-2. Despite that moment, his overall impact at the club has been positive, and the Argentine is reportedly happy in the capital and the club is satisfied with his performances. Fabrizio Romano reported the story. The Italian press has also revealed that the 1999-born defender was sounded out by Inter in the summer, while Juventus had considered him on several occasions in recent years. The defeat in Manchester is quickly making way for preparations for Saturday's game against Sassuolo at the Stadio Olimpico, the eleventh round of Serie A. Roma will be looking to put the Old Trafford setback behind them and continue their strong start to the league season. The Lega Serie A has released the referee appointments for the fixture: Marco Di Bello of the Brindisi section will referee, with assistants Peretti and Scatragli and fourth official Abisso. Pezzuto will be at the VAR, with Guida as AVAR. Gazzetta Regionale reports that Roma continue to monitor Georgian talent Giorgi Kvernadze, whom the club have been tracking since last season. His contract, which runs until 2028, reportedly contains a 4 million euro release clause that can be activated next summer. A significant percentage would also go to his agent, the same agent who looks after the interests of Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. Il Tempo reports that Gasperini could have Manu Koné back at least on the bench against Sassuolo. Koné is very close to full recovery from the thigh muscle injury that kept him out for 20 days. Paulo Dybala has also resumed working on the pitch and could be available at the last minute to face the Emilia side.

Devyne Rensch has suffered a mild tear to his right adductor during Roma's Champions League defeat at Manchester United, according to Sky Sport, and the Dutch full-back is expected to be sidelined for around three weeks. The 22-minute withdrawal at Old Trafford saw Lulli come on in his place. The problem means Rensch will miss Roma's next Serie A fixture against Sassuolo on Saturday evening at the Olimpico. He may only return after the international break, depending on how the injury progresses. The absence further complicates the plans of Gian Piero Gasperini, who is already without Dybala, Koné and Svilar through injury. Gasperini must now do without another option on the flanks just as Roma prepare for their final match before the break. The pause offers a valuable chance to clear, at least in part, the club's injury list.

Roma are reportedly ready to exercise their option to buy Leonardo Balerdi from Marseille, with a fee of between 11 and 14 million euros depending on his number of appearances of at least 45 minutes this season. Balerdi was one of the standout figures in the 3-2 Champions League defeat at Manchester United at Old Trafford, playing very well for around 80 minutes before a costly error: he miscuffed a clearance, allowing Cunha to equalise and make it 2-2. Despite that moment, his overall impact at the club has been positive, and the Argentine is reportedly happy in the capital and the club is satisfied with his performances. Fabrizio Romano reported the story. The Italian press has also revealed that the 1999-born defender was sounded out by Inter in the summer, while Juventus had considered him on several occasions in recent years. The defeat in Manchester is quickly making way for preparations for Saturday's game against Sassuolo at the Stadio Olimpico, the eleventh round of Serie A. Roma will be looking to put the Old Trafford setback behind them and continue their strong start to the league season. The Lega Serie A has released the referee appointments for the fixture: Marco Di Bello of the Brindisi section will referee, with assistants Peretti and Scatragli and fourth official Abisso. Pezzuto will be at the VAR, with Guida as AVAR. Gazzetta Regionale reports that Roma continue to monitor Georgian talent Giorgi Kvernadze, whom the club have been tracking since last season. His contract, which runs until 2028, reportedly contains a 4 million euro release clause that can be activated next summer. A significant percentage would also go to his agent, the same agent who looks after the interests of Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. Il Tempo reports that Gasperini could have Manu Koné back at least on the bench against Sassuolo. Koné is very close to full recovery from the thigh muscle injury that kept him out for 20 days. Paulo Dybala has also resumed working on the pitch and could be available at the last minute to face the Emilia side.

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.

Former United States forward Michele 'Mike' Grella has criticised Roma head coach Gian Piero Gasperini after the club's recent comeback defeats, saying the coach's decisions have been poor. Roma lost at home to Manchester United after being overturned from a two-goal lead, and they face Sassuolo at the Stadio Olimpico on Saturday in their final match before the November international break. Speaking on CBSSportsGolazo, Grella said: "It's not something new. We've seen it against Manchester United, Real Madrid and Inter, in all these cases with a two-goal lead." He added that Roma play with three centre-backs, so nine centre-backs across the three matches, and that seven of them were substituted. "In a really strong team, probably all nine finish the match, or eight. Putting these three matches together, only two finished the game." Grella said the decisions were poor in terms of management by the coach, and that Roma conceded from corners, where heading and personality count. "But these are game decisions and having the wrong players at the wrong time. Koné isn't there, Ndicka only God knows why he didn't start from the first minute, Dybala isn't there, Malen is substituted, Svilar isn't there, nor Gollini, who was ok despite having played only once in two years. When you add all these things to Gasperini's bad decisions, something like this (the Manchester United comeback, ed.) becomes possible against teams of this level."

Roma's defence is under growing strain, having conceded 14 goals in their last seven matches, an average of two per game. The figure is a warning sign for Gasperini and raises serious questions about the team's defensive stability. There is a paradox, though: excluding the defeats to Real Madrid and Manchester United, Roma have not lost in this period. They have shipped plenty of goals but have usually managed to respond. In the Champions League, one detail stands out. In both comebacks Roma have conceded, the collapse came after Hermoso left the pitch. Manchester United scored twice in 15 minutes, and Real Madrid scored three times in 20. Whether this is coincidence or a real factor is hard to establish. Hermoso brings experience, personality and security to the back line, and his absence was clearly felt on both occasions. The absence of Mile Svilar weighs heavily too. Since his injury, a problem with the fifth toe of his foot, Roma have lost their main defensive reference point, a goalkeeper capable of preventing one or two goals a game. Gollini has not let the team down and has often been decisive, but Svilar projects a different sort of security. Behind him, the defence knows it has a goalkeeper ready to correct a mistake and make a save when needed. It is no coincidence that Roma have begun conceding so many goals without him. Gasperini must now work on restoring solidity and, above all, the confidence the side seems to have lost, because the two go hand in hand. When trust disappears, even the most solid wall can start to crack.

Roma coach Gian Piero Gasperini has left uncertainty over the return of goalkeeper Pierluigi Gollini, who has a back problem, ahead of Saturday's match against Sassuolo. Asked about his return, Gasperini replied: "Non lo so, vediamo" ("I don't know, we'll see"). The injury that kept Gollini out of the game against Manchester United could also affect the next fixture. Yesterday Devis Vásquez took his place in goal, making his first appearance in the Roma shirt. His performance is hard to judge. He made no serious mistakes, and his only fault came on Cunha's goal that made it 3-2. He also saved Fernandes's penalty, but the referee denied him the chance to enter Roma's history books. Vásquez could now be asked to play again on Saturday, with Gollini still uncertain and Mile Svilar also in the picture. The game against Sassuolo is on Saturday. Gasperini's cautious comments leave the starting goalkeeper choice open, and Vásquez's debut performance means he is in line for another start if Gollini is not fit.

Former referee Gianpaolo Calvarese has defended the decision to award Manchester United a penalty in their match against Roma at Old Trafford, which Gil Manzano gave at the 58th minute and which allowed United to cut the deficit. Writing in La Gazzetta dello Sport, Calvarese said: "Il rigore concesso per il contatto tra Mancini e Cunha, a mio giudizio, è leggero: Mancini cerca di evitare l'avversario." Translated: "The penalty awarded for the contact between Mancini and Cunha, in my opinion, is slight: Mancini is trying to avoid the opponent." The contact between Mancini and Cunha, if there was any, was described as very light. The spot-kick sequence then began with a save by Vásquez from Bruno Fernandes, followed by a retake after Cristante entered the box early. The result was a 1-2 scoreline, which revitalised United's players and fans and opened the way to their comeback. Calvarese said the focus should be on what came after the save. He said: "Vásquez para il tiro di Bruno Fernandes rispettando la posizione richiesta al portiere, con un piede sulla linea. Cristante, invece, al momento della battuta ha già un piede sulla linea dell'area. E soprattutto è lui che, dopo la parata, gioca il pallone e lo allontana." Translated: "Vásquez saves Bruno Fernandes's shot while respecting the position required of the goalkeeper, with one foot on the line. Cristante, however, already had a foot on the edge of the area when the kick was taken. And above all it is he who, after the save, plays the ball and clears it away." He added that the VAR protocol applied: "L'ingresso anticipato (encroachment) può essere oggetto di intervento, perché Cristante partecipa direttamente all'azione sulla respinta. Il Var lo segnala e il rigore viene ripetuto, senza bisogno che l'arbitro vada al monitor (overrule). La decisione, dunque, è corretta, in punta di regolamento." Translated: "Early entry (encroachment) can be subject to intervention, because Cristante takes a direct part in the action on the rebound. The VAR flags it and the penalty is retaken, without the referee needing to go to the monitor (overrule). The decision, therefore, is correct, strictly according to the rules." Calvarese then questioned whether the outcome was fair. He said: "È giusto che una parata regolare venga cancellata in una situazione del genere?" Translated: "Is it right that a regular save is cancelled in a situation like this?" He argued that both players had complied with the rules, since each kept one foot on the goal line at the moment of the kick, and that Cristante's impact on the rebound had no bearing on the duel between shooter and goalkeeper. He said: "Cristante ha certamente avuto un impatto sulla ribattuta - addirittura arriva per primo sul pallone e lo gioca -, ma quel piede sulla linea non ha inciso sul confronto tra tiratore e portiere." Translated: "Cristante certainly had an impact on the rebound, in fact he gets to the ball first and plays it, but that foot on the line did not affect the duel between shooter and goalkeeper." He backed a proposal from Pierluigi Collina for a "one shot" penalty: "Se il tiro entra, è gol. Se il portiere para, oppure il pallone colpisce un palo, o la traversa, e torna in campo, l'azione finisce e si riparte con un calcio di rinvio." Translated: "If the shot goes in, it is a goal. If the goalkeeper saves, or the ball hits a post or the crossbar and comes back into play, the action ends and play restarts with a goal kick."

Roma were beaten 3-2 at Old Trafford after dominating the first half, with Manchester United winning the game after a controversial refereeing decision and a defensive error by Reportedly Balerdi. Roma's first-half display was built on an aggressive 3-4-2-1 press that left United's 4-2-3-1 struggling to cope. The visitors took control with a Soulé goal, assisted by a delicious pass from Mora, and then a penalty converted by Malen after Soulé was fouled. Roma came close to extending their lead in the first half: Soulé came close to scoring, and Malen wasted several chances through poor first touches, while Roma's pressing forced repeated turnovers. Rensch went off injured in the first half and was replaced by Lulli, a role unusual for him. Gasperini made changes at the break, bringing on Pisilli for Mora to seek more balance, and Tielemans replaced Baleba. Roma's control faded late in the match. Several loose passes and too many backpasses from Roma gave United a foothold, and Maguire and De Roon created the danger from corners. Referee Gil Manzano judged a foul by Cunha in the area, awarded a penalty and ordered it retaken, which changed the game. Roma's keeper Vásquez was denied the chance to be the hero, as the penalty was retaken and Vásquez was unable to stop it. Rensch's withdrawal and the switch to a back three of Ghilardi, N'Dicka and Castro for Hermoso, Mancini and Malen came after Roma's defeat to Napoli, Gasperini's team had already faced Real Madrid in a heavy defeat, and the match was another negative result for the club in a big game against a top-level opponent. The article notes that Gasperini remained calm after the match, saying he was learning from the errors without making a drama of it. Roma must now avoid any hangover in Serie A, where the club's ambitions appear more justified.

Roma coach Gian Piero Gasperini has left uncertainty over the return of goalkeeper Pierluigi Gollini, who has a back problem, ahead of Saturday's match against Sassuolo. Asked about his return, Gasperini replied: "Non lo so, vediamo" ("I don't know, we'll see"). The injury that kept Gollini out of the game against Manchester United could also affect the next fixture. Yesterday Devis Vásquez took his place in goal, making his first appearance in the Roma shirt. His performance is hard to judge. He made no serious mistakes, and his only fault came on Cunha's goal that made it 3-2. He also saved Fernandes's penalty, but the referee denied him the chance to enter Roma's history books. Vásquez could now be asked to play again on Saturday, with Gollini still uncertain and Mile Svilar also in the picture. The game against Sassuolo is on Saturday. Gasperini's cautious comments leave the starting goalkeeper choice open, and Vásquez's debut performance means he is in line for another start if Gollini is not fit.