Koné in doubt for Torino clash; Pisilli set for debut start as Roma reshuffle defence

Gian Piero Gasperini held his pre-match press conference at 13:30 on 13 September from Trigoria ahead of Roma's fourth-round Serie A fixture against Torino on Monday 14 September at the Stadio Olimpico-Grande Torino, with kickoff at 18:30. The head coach addressed several topics in the buildup to the match, a second fixture in five days for Roma. Emanuele Lulli has recovered from injury, but Gasperini fielded questions about the fitness of Manu Koné and Lorenzo Pellegrini. The discussion also covered a potential minor rotation in the squad ahead of facing Torino manager Abate. The press conference came a few days after Roma's opening Champions League match, which ended in a draw against Fenerbahce. Gasperini's full remarks were made available following the conference.

Emanuele Lulli will be available for Gian Piero Gasperini in Roma's match against Torino on 14 September after recovering from an intestinal virus he suffered in recent days. The 19-year-old, who plays as a defender, is expected to start in the Serie A fixture at Stadio Olimpico-Grande Torino, the club's fourth league match of the season. Lulli had contracted the virus without fever, according to Sky Sport journalist Angelo Mangiante. The Palestrina-born player had featured in Roma's opening three Serie A games before being named on the bench for the Champions League debut at home against Fenerbahce. He will train normally today, though the fitness of Manu Koné and Lorenzo Pellegrini remains under observation.

After three league matches and nine points, Roma face their first genuine fixture congestion on the back of Champions League action midweek. Gian Piero Gasperini must now navigate his first serious turnover decision, with Manu Koné sidelined by a knee problem, Paulo Dybala cramping through the closing stages, and Gianluca Mancini appearing fatigued before his substitution. The manager faces a delicate balance: rotation has become unavoidable, but wholesale change could disrupt the coordinated pressing, tight spacing, immediate aggression after possession loss, and attacking patterns that have been central to Roma's bright start. Gasperini has built Roma's perfect opening around a squad that has rapidly learned to recognise itself. Making too many changes at once risks undermining those automatisms. Yet selective intervention is inevitable. Without Koné, Niccolò Pisilli appears the natural solution alongside Bryan Cristante; deploying Marten de Roon, though he has the deepest familiarity with Gasperini, would require him to build understanding with new teammates. In attack, resting Dybala makes sense, with Matías Soulé and Rodrigo Mora able to provide freshness behind Donyell Malen without overturning the offensive identity. Mancini also warrants consideration—he appeared below his usual standard in Istanbul, while Leonardo Balerdi brought aggression and intensity after entering the pitch. The real test lies in the principle Gasperini must master: having no untouchable starting eleven, yet changing three or four players without the football itself changing. Roma arrive at Torino with a perfect record and, more valuably than nine points, a recognisable shape. Three or four changes can regenerate; seven or eight risk creating a different team entirely. The paradox would be protecting energy by sacrificing the very continuity that has made the season's start so strong. For the first time, Gasperini must genuinely manage the squad rather than simply select the strongest team. That quality—doing turnover so well it barely shows—will define whether Roma can sustain their level across multiple competitions.

After three league matches and nine points, Roma face their first genuine fixture congestion on the back of Champions League action midweek. Gian Piero Gasperini must now navigate his first serious turnover decision, with Manu Koné sidelined by a knee problem, Paulo Dybala cramping through the closing stages, and Gianluca Mancini appearing fatigued before his substitution. The manager faces a delicate balance: rotation has become unavoidable, but wholesale change could disrupt the coordinated pressing, tight spacing, immediate aggression after possession loss, and attacking patterns that have been central to Roma's bright start. Gasperini has built Roma's perfect opening around a squad that has rapidly learned to recognise itself. Making too many changes at once risks undermining those automatisms. Yet selective intervention is inevitable. Without Koné, Niccolò Pisilli appears the natural solution alongside Bryan Cristante; deploying Marten de Roon, though he has the deepest familiarity with Gasperini, would require him to build understanding with new teammates. In attack, resting Dybala makes sense, with Matías Soulé and Rodrigo Mora able to provide freshness behind Donyell Malen without overturning the offensive identity. Mancini also warrants consideration—he appeared below his usual standard in Istanbul, while Leonardo Balerdi brought aggression and intensity after entering the pitch. The real test lies in the principle Gasperini must master: having no untouchable starting eleven, yet changing three or four players without the football itself changing. Roma arrive at Torino with a perfect record and, more valuably than nine points, a recognisable shape. Three or four changes can regenerate; seven or eight risk creating a different team entirely. The paradox would be protecting energy by sacrificing the very continuity that has made the season's start so strong. For the first time, Gasperini must genuinely manage the squad rather than simply select the strongest team. That quality—doing turnover so well it barely shows—will define whether Roma can sustain their level across multiple competitions.

Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini is expected to make significant changes to his starting XI for Roma's Serie A match against Torino, with fatigue from the Champions League fixture against Fenerbahce four days earlier likely to play a role in the decisions. Koné is certain to be rested, with Pisilli poised to make his first Serie A start of the season in midfield. In defence, Balerdi is in line to start after two consecutive decisive appearances off the bench, while Mancini has shown objective difficulty maintaining rhythm and concentration, particularly after the opening 45 minutes. Molina is also expected to feature at right-back, challenging Lulli for the position. In attack, Dybala is heading towards his first bench appearance of the season. Mora will replace him, with Soulé and Malen completing the forward line. Final clarity on the side will come during today's training session.

Emanuele Lulli missed training on 12 September with influenza ahead of Roma's Serie A clash against Torino on 14 September at 18:30 at the Stadio Olimpico-Grande Torino, a fourth-round fixture. The 19-year-old defender hopes to recover in time for the match and undergo a decisive final training session. Gian Piero Gasperini will hold his pre-match press conference at Trigoria at 13:30 on 13 September, with an eye toward rotation given Roma's three fixtures in just over a week—including a Champions League match against Fenerbahce and a home encounter with Inter the following Saturday. Koné and Pellegrini are also focal points of Friday's training assessment. The French midfielder has a knee issue that is not a major concern but will not be risked; he trained separately on 12 September, meaning Niccolò Pisilli is expected to start alongside Bryan Cristante in midfield at Torino. Pellegrini is hoping to earn his first squad call-up of the season. Lulli, a 19-year-old from Palestrina, is keen to face Torino's Cacciamani, who recently renewed his contract with the Turin side, and to perform in front of national team coach Mancini, who is scheduled to attend the match according to reports.

Gian Piero Gasperini held his pre-match press conference at 13:30 on 13 September from Trigoria ahead of Roma's fourth-round Serie A fixture against Torino on Monday 14 September at the Stadio Olimpico-Grande Torino, with kickoff at 18:30. The head coach addressed several topics in the buildup to the match, a second fixture in five days for Roma. Emanuele Lulli has recovered from injury, but Gasperini fielded questions about the fitness of Manu Koné and Lorenzo Pellegrini. The discussion also covered a potential minor rotation in the squad ahead of facing Torino manager Abate. The press conference came a few days after Roma's opening Champions League match, which ended in a draw against Fenerbahce. Gasperini's full remarks were made available following the conference.

Emanuele Lulli will be available for Gian Piero Gasperini in Roma's match against Torino on 14 September after recovering from an intestinal virus he suffered in recent days. The 19-year-old, who plays as a defender, is expected to start in the Serie A fixture at Stadio Olimpico-Grande Torino, the club's fourth league match of the season. Lulli had contracted the virus without fever, according to Sky Sport journalist Angelo Mangiante. The Palestrina-born player had featured in Roma's opening three Serie A games before being named on the bench for the Champions League debut at home against Fenerbahce. He will train normally today, though the fitness of Manu Koné and Lorenzo Pellegrini remains under observation.

Emanuele Lulli missed training on 12 September with influenza ahead of Roma's Serie A clash against Torino on 14 September at 18:30 at the Stadio Olimpico-Grande Torino, a fourth-round fixture. The 19-year-old defender hopes to recover in time for the match and undergo a decisive final training session. Gian Piero Gasperini will hold his pre-match press conference at Trigoria at 13:30 on 13 September, with an eye toward rotation given Roma's three fixtures in just over a week—including a Champions League match against Fenerbahce and a home encounter with Inter the following Saturday. Koné and Pellegrini are also focal points of Friday's training assessment. The French midfielder has a knee issue that is not a major concern but will not be risked; he trained separately on 12 September, meaning Niccolò Pisilli is expected to start alongside Bryan Cristante in midfield at Torino. Pellegrini is hoping to earn his first squad call-up of the season. Lulli, a 19-year-old from Palestrina, is keen to face Torino's Cacciamani, who recently renewed his contract with the Turin side, and to perform in front of national team coach Mancini, who is scheduled to attend the match according to reports.

After three league matches and nine points, Roma face their first genuine fixture congestion on the back of Champions League action midweek. Gian Piero Gasperini must now navigate his first serious turnover decision, with Manu Koné sidelined by a knee problem, Paulo Dybala cramping through the closing stages, and Gianluca Mancini appearing fatigued before his substitution. The manager faces a delicate balance: rotation has become unavoidable, but wholesale change could disrupt the coordinated pressing, tight spacing, immediate aggression after possession loss, and attacking patterns that have been central to Roma's bright start. Gasperini has built Roma's perfect opening around a squad that has rapidly learned to recognise itself. Making too many changes at once risks undermining those automatisms. Yet selective intervention is inevitable. Without Koné, Niccolò Pisilli appears the natural solution alongside Bryan Cristante; deploying Marten de Roon, though he has the deepest familiarity with Gasperini, would require him to build understanding with new teammates. In attack, resting Dybala makes sense, with Matías Soulé and Rodrigo Mora able to provide freshness behind Donyell Malen without overturning the offensive identity. Mancini also warrants consideration—he appeared below his usual standard in Istanbul, while Leonardo Balerdi brought aggression and intensity after entering the pitch. The real test lies in the principle Gasperini must master: having no untouchable starting eleven, yet changing three or four players without the football itself changing. Roma arrive at Torino with a perfect record and, more valuably than nine points, a recognisable shape. Three or four changes can regenerate; seven or eight risk creating a different team entirely. The paradox would be protecting energy by sacrificing the very continuity that has made the season's start so strong. For the first time, Gasperini must genuinely manage the squad rather than simply select the strongest team. That quality—doing turnover so well it barely shows—will define whether Roma can sustain their level across multiple competitions.

Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini is expected to make significant changes to his starting XI for Roma's Serie A match against Torino, with fatigue from the Champions League fixture against Fenerbahce four days earlier likely to play a role in the decisions. Koné is certain to be rested, with Pisilli poised to make his first Serie A start of the season in midfield. In defence, Balerdi is in line to start after two consecutive decisive appearances off the bench, while Mancini has shown objective difficulty maintaining rhythm and concentration, particularly after the opening 45 minutes. Molina is also expected to feature at right-back, challenging Lulli for the position. In attack, Dybala is heading towards his first bench appearance of the season. Mora will replace him, with Soulé and Malen completing the forward line. Final clarity on the side will come during today's training session.

Niccolò Pisilli is set to start for Roma against Torino on 13 September, filling the midfield slot alongside Bryan Cristante after Manu Koné suffered a slight knee injury during the Champions League visit to Fenerbahçe. The class of 2004 midfielder will make his first Serie A start of the season after three substitute appearances, stepping in as head coach Gian Piero Gasperini manages the squad across a packed fixture schedule. Gasperini opted to deploy Pisilli over Marten de Roon in Turkey, a signal of the hierarchy in midfield. Koné is likely to be rested to avoid compounding the injury ahead of the Inter fixture. Gasperini trusts Pisilli and values his offensive contribution and application without the ball, according to reports in Il Tempo. The coach is expected to make other changes across the defence and attack but will not drastically overhaul the team despite the rapid fixture congestion. Elsewhere, Leonardo Balerdi is pressing for minutes after two decent cameos in earlier games. Devyne Rensch struggled in Istanbul, leaving the right-back position uncertain, with Nahuel Molina still without a league start this season and Emanuele Lulli dealing with flu that prevented him training on 12 September, though he hopes to travel with the squad. Donyell Malen holds a clear advantage over Santiago Castro in attack. The choice among Paulo Dybala, Matías Soulé and Rodrigo Mora remains fluid; Gasperini has difficulty leaving any of them out and may ask for an effort from one until the international break.