Mourinho returns to Olimpico as Roma welcome Real Madrid in Champions League

Antonio Cassano, who has played for both AS Roma and Real Madrid, has launched a strong attack on Real Madrid manager José Mourinho while praising Roma head coach Gian Piero Gasperini ahead of their Champions League match at the Olimpico. In an interview with Spanish daily Diario AS, Cassano declared: "Roma has a fantastic coach, while Real Madrid doesn't, because Mourinho doesn't like to play football: he likes to talk. It's incredible that Real Madrid, the strongest team in history, took Mourinho. I don't understand how Florentino bet on him. It drives me crazy." Cassano's most striking claim was that if the managers were swapped, the outcome would be dramatically different. "If we exchanged the benches and Gasperini coached Real Madrid, Madrid would win 10–0," he said. He attributed Mourinho's success to fortune and powerful representation rather than tactical merit: "His football has been outdated for ten years. His career left no legacy, only arguments with everyone. He likes to talk about everything except football. One of his great merits is having Jorge Mendes as his agent, who always finds him good teams." Cassano acknowledged Real Madrid's superior quality but credited Gasperini's work at Roma. "Real Madrid is stronger, and Madrid will win 80%, even though Gasperini is very good and Mourinho is nothing. Real doesn't need to close ranks waiting for Mbappé, Bellingham or Vinícius to solve matches," he said. He also praised Barcelona's system under Flick: "Barcelona and Flick created a team with great personality where everyone attacks. Madrid does the opposite." Cassano criticised Real's attacking players, notably Vinícius, whom he ranked below teammate Rodrygo. "Vinícius is only a good player. Rodrygo is much stronger to me. I don't understand why Vinícius is talked about far more than him. If Vinícius isn't well physically he has no alternatives and hasn't great quality in front of goal. He scores, but he's not a star. Rodrygo, if he's fit, must play as a starter instead of him." Cassano also reflected on his own time at Madrid starting in 2005, admitting his career there was wasted due to poor discipline and attitude. "I was like that. The best players I met in my life are Ronaldo, Zidane and Guti, but I thought of other things. I was missing the head," he said. He spoke warmly of manager Fabio Capello, under whom he played at both Roma and Madrid: "I had him at Roma and at Madrid, and it's true I didn't behave well with him. I had a terrible head, but I remember him as the most important coach of my career."

Roma host Real Madrid at the Olimpico in the second matchday of the Champions League League Phase, with head coach Gian Piero Gasperini having settled on his starting XI. Pierluigi Gollini will start in goal, with Gianluca Mancini, Evan N'Dicka and Mario Hermoso forming the defence. Nahuel Molina and Wesley are set to operate on the flanks, while Marten De Roon will partner Manu Koné in midfield as Bryan Cristante remains unavailable. Matías Soulé will play behind Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen in attack. The midfield pairing of De Roon and Koné faces the task of withstanding Real Madrid's central dominance and providing intensity and cover during transitions. Gasperini is placing his faith in the attacking unit that offers the greatest technical guarantees and threat. The only meaningful defensive debate involves Leonardo Balerdi pressing Mario Hermoso for a place, while Devyne Rensch represents an alternative on the right flank—though Molina appears favoured to start from the opening whistle. Donyell Malen will make his first start despite the red card he received on Sunday against Como. Roma's probable formation (3-4-1-2): Gollini; Mancini, N'Dicka, Hermoso; Molina, De Roon, Koné, Wesley; Soulé; Dybala, Malen. The club will field itself without particular calculation, ready to challenge Real Madrid with its own identity and with the Olimpico expected to drive the team through one of the most prestigious evenings in recent years.

Antonio Cassano has intensified anticipation for Roma's Champions League fixture against Real Madrid by delivering a scathing assessment of José Mourinho's managerial capabilities. Speaking to Diario AS, the former striker—who played for both clubs during his career—praised Gian Piero Gasperini's work while reserving harsh criticism for Mourinho's approach. Cassano said: "Roma and Real Madrid are two very different teams. First of all, Roma has a fantastic coach, while Real Madrid does not, because Mourinho does not like to play football; he only likes to talk. It is incredible that Real Madrid, the strongest team in history, has hired Mourinho. I do not understand how Florentino Pérez could have chosen him. It drives me crazy." Cassano argued that Mourinho's tactical philosophy has become outdated and that his managerial legacy consists only of conflict. "Mourinho is no longer capable of managing," Cassano stated. "It is true that Gasperini has won only a Europa League, but titles do not interest me; what matters is what I see on the pitch. Mourinho was very fortunate because none of his teams played well. His football philosophy became obsolete ten years ago. His career has left no legacy, only arguments with everyone. He likes to talk about other things, but not football. One of his greatest merits is having Jorge Mendes as an agent, who always finds him good clubs." When asked about the upcoming match, Cassano predicted a difficult night for Roma despite backing Gasperini's methods. "Roma plays very well, but Real Madrid is stronger," he said. "I think it will be a difficult match, but Real Madrid has an 80 per cent chance of winning, even though Gasperini is very good and Mourinho is not. They should not stay closed in defence waiting for Mbappé, Bellingham or Vinicius to score and win matches. They should learn from Barcelona and Flick, who has created a great team with strong personality in which everyone attacks. Real Madrid does things in the opposite way." Cassano also reflected on his Roma career, noting Francesco Totti as one of his greatest idols and praising Ronaldo Nazário as the finest centre-forward he ever witnessed, describing him as "absolutely fabulous."