Mancini answers his critics with strong display ahead of Inter clash

Luciano Moggi and Gian Piero Gasperini were photographed together at a bar in Turin on 15 September, prompting speculation among Roma supporters about the encounter between the club's current head coach and a figure long associated with Juventus and the Calciopoli scandal. Moggi, speaking to Radio Radio, clarified that the two have known each other for years from their time working together at Juventus, when Gasperini coached the youth academy and Moggi held a director's role. Moggi stressed that Gasperini requires no advice, saying: "Abbiamo parlato della partita, del più e del meno. La squadra è quella che è, è prima in classifica ma a prescindere da quello che sta dimostrando ha un'ossatura importante, un gioco importante. Davanti ha chi fa gol" ("We talked about the match and other things. The squad is what it is—they're top of the table, and regardless of what they're showing, they have an important structure, important football. Up front they have goalscorers"). Moggi also addressed Roma's comparison with Juventus, stating that Roma are superior across defence, midfield and attack, with particular praise for midfielder Manu Koné, noting that Juventus would be a different proposition if they had a player of his calibre. On Roma's title prospects, Moggi said: "La Roma si può giocare lo scudetto" ("Roma can compete for the Scudetto"). He highlighted Donyell Malen as a crucial acquisition, describing him as "Un affare per il rapporto economico-sportivo" ("A deal in economic and sporting terms"), crediting Malen with energizing teammates and improving Paulo Dybala's consistency. Moggi noted that Malen had been a reserve elsewhere, but that Italy's league offers such players a platform to emerge as starters. He concluded that if Roma maintain continuity with Malen, they can challenge Inter, with Gasperini described as "super" and the squad possessing quality across all departments. Roma face Inter on Saturday at 18:00.

Paulo Dybala is performing at a level unseen during his time at Roma, and Gasperini has been deliberate in building that consistency. Ahead of the Torino match, the coach insisted: "I cannot put him to sleep." While Dybala did not shine as brightly as in earlier appearances, he made an impact, providing an assist for Donyell Malen—the decisive play that unlocked the match—and collecting another three points. His physical condition and continuity of play represent a marked departure from his recent history in the capital. Gasperini's approach centres on trust and uninterrupted playing time. The coach deploys Dybala without calculation or excessive rotation when the opportunity arises, signalling his importance to the team and the system. This continuity builds confidence; as the article frames it, "playing helps you play." Dybala has undergone a crucial mental shift, no longer hesitant to shoot, attack or engage fully in matches. He has stopped thinking about what might go wrong and focused instead on performing. The transformation stems from multiple elements—a pre-season structured to Gasperini's specifications, faith from the manager, and above all a psychological reset that has allowed his talent to function at full capacity once more.

Christian Vieri has praised Gian Piero Gasperini's start as Roma head coach, saying the club must heed his guidance if they are to achieve their ambitions. Roma have collected 12 points from four matches with 12 goals scored and only one conceded—a record Vieri views as evidence of Gasperini's tactical impact. The side face Inter on Saturday in what Vieri calls "the first real test of the season", followed by a home fixture against Real Madrid at the Olimpico. Vieri told Adnkronos: "He has made a very very good start, with 12 points in four matches. Gasperini's work is visible; he is one of the greatest coaches in the world, so if the club listens to him, he can take Roma high." The former striker also praised Paulo Dybala as "always the number one, a great striker", and expressed confidence that Gasperini will prepare the team correctly for the challenges ahead. Of the Madrid visit, Vieri said: "It will be a cauldron", and predicted that Gasperini "will get his players to a thousand, it will be a beautiful match to watch."

Radio Roma commentators are backing Roma to upset Inter in their upcoming league fixture, with analyst Mario Mattioli declaring Roma in the better psychological state to spring a surprise. Mattioli said: "Never like this time can Roma pull off a trick on Inter: in my view at this moment I see them superior to the Nerazzurri in character and psychological predisposition, I see them very consistent. Inter has more ups and downs: they concede two goals but then overturn it. Never like this time can Roma win it. But if the match doesn't open up in regular time, I don't rule out that in the end it could finish in a draw." Roma have not beaten Inter since November 2018, but commentators believe the pressure-based system Gasperini has installed offers a route to victory. David Rossi highlighted that "Roma has understood what the manager wants, they all go in the same direction, there's no one who breaks ranks. Inter is a team that suffers under pressure… when pressed well, man-to-man, it can run into difficulty." Fabio Petruzzi praised the conviction shown against Turin, noting Roma "doesn't fear playing high, plays with the defence on the midfield line, doesn't fear conceding goals. It's a calculated risk. The mentality of going onto any pitch and not fearing one-v-one football across the entire field is the most beautiful thing." Nando Orsi cautioned that the fixture will be revealing, saying: "This match can give different judgements compared to what we've seen so far because neither of the two has faced important teams until now." Francesca Ferrazza anticipated tactical rotation, predicting: "Gasperini doesn't put out the usual formation, in my view on Saturday with a more advanced midfielder in Cristante or Pisilli, and putting Dybala and Malen up front." The defence remains a live selection question. Alessio Nardo noted that the Mancini–Balerdi–Hermoso trio is "perhaps one of the fiercest trios and most temperamental," while Lorenzo Pes assessed the Balerdi versus Ndícka choice as "50–50," noting Ndícka's familiarity with the defensive unit may give him the edge. Roberto Pruzzo, a Roma legend, expressed concern about Inter's strength in depth, observing they have two squads and reacted powerfully after conceding two goals in recent form.

Gianluca Mancini pulled over his car at the exit of Roma's Trigoria training centre to take selfies and chat with supporters, in a moment captured on video and shared on Instagram by the account 'Calciatori per sbaglio'. A group of children chased after his vehicle, managed to get his attention, and the defender spent time posing for photographs with all of them before driving away. The informal encounter shows a lighter side of professional football, where a brief interaction between a player and young fans can become a meaningful moment for those involved.

Gianluca Mancini pulled over on his way out of Trigoria on 15 September to take a selfie with a group of young supporters who flagged him down in the middle of the road. The Roma defender obliged the excited children, who embraced each other afterwards in a moment of joy captured on video and shared by the Instagram account Calciatori per Sbaglio. The interaction came after training as Roma prepared for Saturday's big match against Inter. Mancini has become a fixture in the capital and is one of the players through whom Roma's fanbase most closely identifies, valued for his commitment and passion for the shirt. The gesture exemplifies the connection between the defender and the club's supporters.

Andrea Stramaccioni, a former coach of both Roma's and Inter's youth academies and a former Inter first-team manager, has offered his analysis ahead of Saturday 19 September's match between Roma and Inter at the Olimpico. Speaking to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Stramaccioni drew on decades of experience with both clubs to assess the upcoming fixture and its significance. Stramaccioni recalled his first encounter with Gasperini in the summer of 2003 at Crotone in Serie C1, where Gasperini was already implementing his 3–4–3 system as a mantra. He described Gasperini as "a fury, in field and out", recounting how Gasperini once persuaded the club president to abandon coach travel in favour of flying to away matches to change the team's mentality. That season, Gasperini won the playoff against Viterbese and secured promotion to Serie B. Stramaccioni also praised Leonardo Balerdi and Paulo Dybala for their form this season, and singled out Donyell Malen as having elite striker's pace. On Inter, he noted that while Lautaro Martínez made errors, "mistakes are part of the journey. Inter backed him, we're only at five matches. Chivu will defend him to the death." On the tactical battle ahead, Stramaccioni identified the key contests: Roma will invert their attacking shape to control Piotr Zielinski and prevent Inter's fullbacks from building play, while watching the flanks closely, with an unusual duel between Wesley and Youssouf Diouf. For Inter, he highlighted how movements from the strikers in combination with Barella can disrupt Roma's man-to-man marking. Crucially, Stramaccioni noted that Gasperini's philosophy struggles against the 3–5–2 system—since January 2010, against coaches using this formation (Conte, Simone Inzaghi, and Chivu himself), Gasperini has lost ten times and drawn four. He assessed that "whoever wins will give the first blow to the rival, putting morale in the bank," calling it an early title statement. Both squads have strengthened, he said, but "Gasperini has closed the gap considerably." Stramaccioni expressed concern that Malen, now a "special focus" for opposition, will battle Lautaro for the scoring title, and that Dybala's assists will prove decisive for Roma's chances in the match.

Andrea Stramaccioni, a DAZN pundit who has managed both Roma and Inter's youth academies and Inter's first team, has analysed Saturday's top-of-the-table encounter between Roma and Inter at the Olimpico. Stramaccioni traced his relationship with Gasperini back to the summer of 2003, when both worked at Crotone in Serie C. Gasperini was already employing his 3-4-3 blueprint, famously persuading the club's president Raffaele Vrenna to replace the team bus with flights for away matches. "That year he won the playoffs against Viterbese and went up to Serie B," Stramaccioni recalled. On the fixture itself, Stramaccioni described it as a title-decider in miniature. "It's early, but whoever wins will deliver the first blow to their rival, putting morale in the bank. Especially with the long break, analyses echo longer, either way," he said. He identified Wesley's duel with Diouf as the unusual key battleground, with Roma's defensive shape built to occupy Zielinski and prevent Inter's centre-backs from building play. Roma will also guard the flanks carefully. For Inter, Stramaccioni highlighted the combination play between Barella and the attacking forwards, which could trouble Roma's man-marking approach. Stramaccioni highlighted a structural weakness in Gasperini's philosophy when facing the 3-5-2 formation. "It is undeniable that the 'Gasperinian' creed suffers from certain aspects of the 3-5-2. Since January 2010, against coaches using this system — see Conte, Simone Inzaghi and Chivu himself — Gasp has lost ten times and drawn four," he explained. On individual players, he singled out Zielinski, Balerdi and Dybala for praise: "I'm happy to see him in such good form." On Malen's goalscoring prospects, Stramaccioni noted the forward has now become a marked man, with Dybala's assists crucial to his success. "Both squads have strengthened themselves. Inter are deeper, but Gasperini has narrowed the gap considerably," he concluded.

Radio Roma commentators are backing Roma to upset Inter in their upcoming league fixture, with analyst Mario Mattioli declaring Roma in the better psychological state to spring a surprise. Mattioli said: "Never like this time can Roma pull off a trick on Inter: in my view at this moment I see them superior to the Nerazzurri in character and psychological predisposition, I see them very consistent. Inter has more ups and downs: they concede two goals but then overturn it. Never like this time can Roma win it. But if the match doesn't open up in regular time, I don't rule out that in the end it could finish in a draw." Roma have not beaten Inter since November 2018, but commentators believe the pressure-based system Gasperini has installed offers a route to victory. David Rossi highlighted that "Roma has understood what the manager wants, they all go in the same direction, there's no one who breaks ranks. Inter is a team that suffers under pressure… when pressed well, man-to-man, it can run into difficulty." Fabio Petruzzi praised the conviction shown against Turin, noting Roma "doesn't fear playing high, plays with the defence on the midfield line, doesn't fear conceding goals. It's a calculated risk. The mentality of going onto any pitch and not fearing one-v-one football across the entire field is the most beautiful thing." Nando Orsi cautioned that the fixture will be revealing, saying: "This match can give different judgements compared to what we've seen so far because neither of the two has faced important teams until now." Francesca Ferrazza anticipated tactical rotation, predicting: "Gasperini doesn't put out the usual formation, in my view on Saturday with a more advanced midfielder in Cristante or Pisilli, and putting Dybala and Malen up front." The defence remains a live selection question. Alessio Nardo noted that the Mancini–Balerdi–Hermoso trio is "perhaps one of the fiercest trios and most temperamental," while Lorenzo Pes assessed the Balerdi versus Ndícka choice as "50–50," noting Ndícka's familiarity with the defensive unit may give him the edge. Roberto Pruzzo, a Roma legend, expressed concern about Inter's strength in depth, observing they have two squads and reacted powerfully after conceding two goals in recent form.

Radio Roma commentators are backing Roma to upset Inter in their upcoming league fixture, with analyst Mario Mattioli declaring Roma in the better psychological state to spring a surprise. Mattioli said: "Never like this time can Roma pull off a trick on Inter: in my view at this moment I see them superior to the Nerazzurri in character and psychological predisposition, I see them very consistent. Inter has more ups and downs: they concede two goals but then overturn it. Never like this time can Roma win it. But if the match doesn't open up in regular time, I don't rule out that in the end it could finish in a draw." Roma have not beaten Inter since November 2018, but commentators believe the pressure-based system Gasperini has installed offers a route to victory. David Rossi highlighted that "Roma has understood what the manager wants, they all go in the same direction, there's no one who breaks ranks. Inter is a team that suffers under pressure… when pressed well, man-to-man, it can run into difficulty." Fabio Petruzzi praised the conviction shown against Turin, noting Roma "doesn't fear playing high, plays with the defence on the midfield line, doesn't fear conceding goals. It's a calculated risk. The mentality of going onto any pitch and not fearing one-v-one football across the entire field is the most beautiful thing." Nando Orsi cautioned that the fixture will be revealing, saying: "This match can give different judgements compared to what we've seen so far because neither of the two has faced important teams until now." Francesca Ferrazza anticipated tactical rotation, predicting: "Gasperini doesn't put out the usual formation, in my view on Saturday with a more advanced midfielder in Cristante or Pisilli, and putting Dybala and Malen up front." The defence remains a live selection question. Alessio Nardo noted that the Mancini–Balerdi–Hermoso trio is "perhaps one of the fiercest trios and most temperamental," while Lorenzo Pes assessed the Balerdi versus Ndícka choice as "50–50," noting Ndícka's familiarity with the defensive unit may give him the edge. Roberto Pruzzo, a Roma legend, expressed concern about Inter's strength in depth, observing they have two squads and reacted powerfully after conceding two goals in recent form.

Niccolò Pisilli has impressed in Roma's opening matches after overcoming a difficult summer, and head coach Gian Piero Gasperini is weighing how to use him in the coming fixture against Inter. Gasperini has long admired the 21-year-old midfielder, who will turn 22 in a week. Last season the coach praised Pisilli's development repeatedly and made his commitment to the club explicit in January, saying he would "stay here". Pisilli has repaid that faith on the pitch, delivering the kind of outside-the-box shots that few other midfielders in the Roma squad possess. Before the Torino match, Gasperini was direct about his midfield depth: "In midfield we have four players, all four are essential and important." The numbers back him up. Pisilli has already scored 10 goals in 82 Roma appearances (across 5 assists)—a tally De Rossi reached in 105 matches. Remarkably, 7 of his 10 goals came after the 80th minute and 3 beyond the 90th, a striking pattern that underscores his impact as a substitute. Against Inter, he could start again, though potentially in a different role. With Koné expected to return to midfield alongside Cristante and de Roon ready to come off the bench, Gasperini may deploy Pisilli as a trequartista behind Dybala and Malen. This positioning would allow him to support the midfield—more so than Soulé or Mora—while leveraging his ability to strike from distance and find space between the lines to create attacking threats.

Roma's evolution under coach Gian Piero Gasperini has taken shape across two decisive fixtures—the Champions League debut against Fenerbahce in Istanbul on Thursday and a four-day-later trip to Turin against Torino—that showcase the impact of the summer transfer market overhaul steered by new sporting director D'Amico. In the first match, Roma's return to Europe's elite competition after a seven-year absence saw Gasperini field performers who had earned third place in Serie A. Against Torino, however, two summer signings started, with three more introduced during play as Roma secured a fourth consecutive league win. Despite missing three key players—Evan N'Dicka, Wesley, and Manu Koné—Roma maintained tactical identity and attacking threat at Turin, underlining how the summer reinforcements have strengthened the squad's reliability compared to the previous season. The shift in personnel tells the story plainly. A year ago, Gasperini would have replaced N'Dicka and Wesley with Kostas Tsimikas and Jan Ziółkowski; neither remains at Trigoria. Manu Koné's role would have gone to Neil El Aynaoui, who has been moved on after one season, as have Tsimikas and Ziółkowski. In their place came Leonardo Balerdi and Nahuel Molina, both Argentine internationals—Balerdi absent from last year's World Cup only through injury, Molina a Qatar winner alongside Paulo Dybala and recently a World Cup runner-up. Niccolò Pisilli, grown into his role at the start of 2026 and a national team player, has inherited Koné's midfield spot. Gasperini paired Balerdi immediately with Marten de Roon, who arrived from Bergamo in the final moments of the window and played more than half the second half against Torino. Lorenzo Pellegrini, called up after five months out, extended Gasperini's roster of captains—the coach has made clear he possesses multiple leaders beyond Bryan Cristante and Gianluca Mancini. Gasperini operates what he calls the "law of sixteen," seeking to deploy the same core of players in every match to guarantee brilliance, intensity and competitive edge. He refuses publicly to divide his squad into starters and substitutes; there is no difference between a player who begins and one who enters in progress. New sporting director D'Amico's tenure has produced a squad numerically smaller than its predecessor, as D'Amico himself acknowledged, yet Gasperini presented it at full strength in Turin. The article notes that one or two adjustments in January may be needed to perfect the squad further.