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Marotta: Roma a side worthy of respect ahead of Inter clash
Match ReportSerie A
·19 September 2026·3h ago

Marotta: Roma a side worthy of respect ahead of Inter clash

Source: Forza Roma

Inter president Giuseppe Marotta spoke ahead of his side's match against Roma, paying tribute to Sandro Mazzola as a symbol of the club's greatness before offering an assessment of Roma's current form. Marotta described Roma as an opponent of considerable quality, highlighting the early-season progress they have made. "It will be an interlocutory result whatever it may be," he said. "It's an opportunity to face an opponent of very great value. Aside from the result, the performance matters a great deal. Roma has demonstrated in this start, collecting points and acclaim for the football expressed. It's an opponent of all due respect."

Mazzola, who wore Inter's shirt for seventeen consecutive seasons as part of the great Inter of Herrera and Angelo Moratti, represents the values Marotta believes must be preserved and passed to current players. Roma, under Gasperini, have impressed both in their display on the pitch and their results. The Stadio Olimpico provides a crucial advantage in matches of this calibre.

When asked what Inter find appealing about Roma, Marotta highlighted Gasperini's experience and quality, and his ability to transmit tactical concepts to his players regardless of squad turnover. "The quality of the game and the organisation are the best characteristics of this squad," Marotta stated. "It has a stadium and a large crowd that gives that extra push needed in these circumstances."

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Story Coverage5 sources on this story

Roma face Inter at the Stadio Olimpico in what both clubs and media are framing as a title-decider, with the winner moving top of Serie A alone heading into the international break. Both sides arrive unbeaten and with full squads available for the first time this season. Inter president Giuseppe Marotta described Roma as "an opponent of all due respect," crediting Gasperini's tactical quality and the Olimpico crowd as significant factors. Radio analysts Pruzzo and Sabatini both backed Roma to arrive in superior form, though Orsi framed the encounter as 49–51 in Inter's favour rather than a decisive advantage. The match has already begun to define the season's trajectory: Roma have scored 12 goals under Gasperini while Inter have netted 13, but Inter's superior goal difference reflects their defensive solidity. Historically, Roma and Inter have met 186 times in Serie A, producing 540 goals at an average of 2.9 per match.

Gasperini faces defensive selection dilemmas despite a fully fit squad. Leonardo Balerdi is expected to start ahead of either Mario Hermoso or Evan N'Dicka, though outlets differ on the exact pairing. On the left flank, Emanuele Lulli is favoured over Nahuel Molina, though Pess noted a conditional arrangement: if Molina plays, Wesley may shift to the right; if Lulli starts, Wesley remains left. Matías Soulé and Paulo Dybala will support Donyell Malen in attack, with Manu Koné returning to midfield. Gasperini described Inter as "markedly stronger" but insisted Roma "will try to insert ourselves," while preparing the squad overnight at Trigoria to maintain focus. The Olimpico is expected to host over 60,000 supporters.

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Testo Originale / Source Text

“Giuseppe Marotta, presidente del consiglio di amministrazione e amministratore delegato dell'Inter, ha parlato ai microfoni di Dazn prima dell'inizio del match contro la Roma. Queste le sue parole: Su Mazzola. "E' un pezzo della leggenda nerazzurra. Ha indossato questa maglia per diciassette…”

Read the full article in Italian at Forza Roma.

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