Mattioli backs de Roon amid Roma debate ahead of Como clash

José Mourinho discussed his time at Roma ahead of Real Madrid's upcoming match against the club, revealing that his dismissal stemmed from a breakdown in his relationship with owner the Friedkin Group. Speaking to Corriere dello Sport, Mourinho described the Europa League final in Budapest as both the pinnacle of his connection with Roma and the catalyst for his downfall. He said: "The Budapest final is the pinnacle of this connection" and explained the circumstances of his departure: "The day of the final in Budapest, I was fired: when I returned from vacation, I was already dead." Mourinho also addressed the controversial nature of the final itself, taking responsibility for his own conduct while distancing himself from fan reactions. When asked about referee Anthony Taylor's treatment by Roma supporters, he responded: "My responsibility is only for what happened in the tunnel with the referee, not for what happened at the airport." The Portuguese manager elaborated on the reasons for his sacking, stating: "I paid the price with my relationship with the owners, who had a different profile than mine, and a different approach to that final." Roma fans maintain a strong emotional connection with Mourinho, who became emblematic of the club's pursuit of silverware during his tenure and cultivated an us-against-the-world mentality that resonated with supporters. His return to Rome with Real Madrid next week is expected to receive a special reception from the Giallorossi faithful.

José Mourinho has opened up about his relationship with Roma and the painful end to his time at the club, describing a connection with the fanbase that transcended football. Speaking to Corriere dello Sport, Mourinho recalled his arrival in the capital with characteristic candour. "The fans were special with me," he said. "I always tell the story that on the day I arrived in Rome and got off the plane, there were a thousand people. But I had done nothing. I hadn't won anything for these people and I asked myself why. This had a big impact. I didn't deserve it, but this is Rome—you understand it afterwards." Mourinho emphasised the depth of his commitment to the club and its supporters. "A crazy connection was created," he explained. "They understood that I never worried about my image, my relationships with the ownership, Italian football politics, or the press. For me, only Roma and the Romanisti existed. I fought for them, I gave everything of myself and in return I received their love." He highlighted Roma's Europa Conference League victory as a watershed moment, noting that for a club without frequent major honours, such a triumph carried immense significance. "The fans showed a love that touches you for the club. I made mistakes, I lost matches, I got things wrong sometimes, but they always understood that I was fighting for them." The narrative darkened when Mourinho addressed the Europa League final in Budapest and its aftermath. "The end of the Europa League was the highest point of this connection with the fans. Obviously it ended badly for me," he said. "I paid for the relationship with the ownership, which had a profile and approach different from mine over what happened in the final. I was already dead, and after a few months I left." The interview underscores how deeply the wound of his departure runs, and his place in supporters' affection remains secure, though Mourinho himself resists comparisons with Roma's legendary figures.

José Mourinho has explained the breakdown of his Roma tenure in an interview with Corriere dello Sport, linking the fracture with Friedkin ownership to the aftermath of the Budapest final and the Anthony Taylor controversy. Now Real Madrid manager, Mourinho said the consequences of the Taylor incident extended beyond his direct responsibility. "What happened to Taylor at the airport is not my responsibility," he stated. "The responsibility is the insults in the garage, and I only had to pay for that. I paid for it in my relationship with Roma's ownership, since they had a different approach. At that moment I was already out." Mourinho expressed deep affection for Roma's legendary figures Francesco Totti and Bruno Conti. "Francesco is untouchable. I will always stand behind him," he said. "Roma has a beautiful history with historic players, and I also think of Bruno Conti, whom I love." On the broader question of how top clubs treat their greatest figures, Mourinho acknowledged the complexities: "It's impossible for a club to open its doors to all past glories. I also understand the difficulties when you've had so many." Mourinho discussed his return to the Olimpico as an opponent, emphasising the emotional weight of the fixture. "I don't expect anything special," he said. "I only expect respect. I haven't started preparing for that match yet—neither as a coach nor as a former manager returning home. I haven't thought about it yet. I must defend myself and prepare to do my job well, and to do that I need to try to forget where I am and who I'm playing against. I did this with Inter, for example, or with Chelsea. It's never happened to me at Roma, and I must say it will be different. I'll take the road to the Olimpico as an opponent. It will be the first time I go there without the passion of Roma fans. And I'll have to prepare my players for that. Mine are of the highest level and are used to it, but in Rome there's a different atmosphere, a beautiful one." Mourinho added a pointed remark about Taylor's current role: "Taylor is now match delegate in Turkey. But the chief referee in Turkey was recently convicted and went to prison."

Roma routed Sorianese 20-0 in a training match at Trigoria on 8 October, with Rodrigo Mora and Lorenzo Pellegrini among the standout performers in a session that has given head coach Gian Piero Gasperini fresh insight into his squad ahead of Sunday's fixture at Como. The friendly's primary value lay not in the scoreline—inevitably skewed by the gap in category between Serie A and the Eccellenza Laziale side—but in the individual responses Gasperini observed. The attacking third remains the only genuine area of tactical debate for the Como trip, and Mora and Pellegrini both delivered encouraging displays. Mora, deployed alongside Paulo Dybala in support of Donyell Malen, continues to hold the edge as favourite to start at the Sinigaglia, having returned from Portugal Under-21 duty with strong match sharpness. The Portuguese midfielder arrives with significant minutes on his legs and showed immediate brilliance upon his return. Pellegrini, meanwhile, has made considerable progress in his recovery from a lengthy injury layoff and used the international break to work uninterrupted at Trigoria. He responded well in the test, though Gasperini appears likely to favour Mora's greater match rhythm for the opener—Pellegrini has not featured in an official match for several months and may be introduced from the bench as the game develops. Matías Soulé, by contrast, stands further down the pecking order for Como after only recently returning from Argentina, where he has been completing recovery from his intercontinental travel. The broad picture presents three contenders for one starting spot, but Mora has gained ground on his rivals in recent hours. The outcome will become clear when Roma face Como on Sunday.

Roma face a relentless stretch of nine matches in 28 days with no break, forcing coach Gian Piero Gasperini to deploy his full squad after limiting rotation heavily in the opening weeks. The campaign begins on Sunday with a top-of-the-table fixture against Como, followed within nine days by an encounter with Genoa and then Slovan Bratislava, Napoli, Cagliari, Udinese, Manchester United and Parma. Five of the nine fixtures will be away from home, with minimal recovery time between matches. Gasperini will be without Bryan Cristante for at least another week, but the rest of the squad is available. The first significant change will see Marten de Roon make his competitive debut. The most anticipated rotations will come in attack and midfield. Santiago Castro has featured sparingly while Donyell Malen remains in excellent form, but cannot play every game. In the attacking midfield positions, Matías Soulé, Rodrigo Mora and Lorenzo Pellegrini are all fit and ready; Soulé has been the most frequently used of the three so far this season, Mora has sat on the bench three times in succession, and Pellegrini has not appeared since April but is at full fitness. Gasperini will assess Rodrigo's training performance before deciding the team for Sunday—the Argentine trained in a recovery session on 8 October. The manager is leaning towards starting Mora at Como, deploying Soulé in the following match against Real Madrid, and selecting Pellegrini for the Genoa fixture. Such rotations are necessary given the congested fixture list.

Gian Piero Gasperini is within touching distance of a landmark achievement ahead of Roma's visit to Como on Sunday. A victory would take the 68-year-old into an elite group of Serie A managers—alongside Trapattoni, Allegri, Spalletti and Rocco—with 300 top-flight wins. The milestone will come from 157 victories with Atalanta, 49 with Roma, 88 with Genoa, and six with Crotone and Palermo combined. Yet Gasperini's priority is restoring Roma to the form shown in the first part of the season after a dip in their title chase. The fixture carries intrigue beyond the standings: Gasperini, the oldest manager in Serie A at nearly 69, faces Como's Carles Fabregas, the youngest at 39. The pair share a past as midfielders and faced some tension last season. Both sides have positioned themselves among Serie A's most prolific attackers after five matches. Roma lead for touches in the opponent's penalty area with 219, ahead of Como's 209; the two clubs rank alongside Inter as the league's most productive in terms of shots, shots on target and Expected Goals. Fabregas's side will offer no soft target at the Stadio Sinigaglia. Gasperini told Corriere di Bergamo: "The plan is to win the Scudetto within three years, but maybe we could do it sooner. We are aware the road is long. In football there are no straight paths. There will be ups and downs. If we can manage them, who knows." Rodrigo Mora is pushing for a starting place alongside Lorenzo Pellegrini and Matías Soulé in attack, with Donyell Malen and Paulo Dybala also in contention. Manu Koné and Wesley returned to training during a closed friendly with Sorianese; Santiago Castro, Balerdi and Soulé—back after attending Lionel Messi's farewell celebration—will rejoin the group today.

Bryan Cristante will miss Roma's away fixture against Como this weekend due to a knee problem. The midfielder has been Gasperini's most-used outfield player so far this season but is working to accelerate his recovery, targeting a return to the squad for the Champions League match against Real Madrid on 14 October. The Como–Roma clash pits two of Serie A's best-resourced ownership groups against each other. The Hartono family have invested approximately €390 million in Como's project, while Dan Friedkin has already exceeded €1 billion in Roma investment since 2020, reaching €1.06 billion when combining the club's acquisition and financial support. Roma's losses have fallen significantly from €219 million in 2021–22 to €54 million in 2024–25. The club remains committed to its new stadium project at Pietralata, scheduled for completion in 2029. The match is shaping up to be an international affair, with only one Italian—Gianluca Mancini—potentially among the 22 starting players, representing 13 different nationalities. Gasperini is evaluating Rodrigo Mora as a possible surprise inclusion, with the midfielder's stock rising particularly because Matías Soulé only returned to full training yesterday and will train with the group today alongside Santiago Castro and Leonardo Balerdi. In defence, the trio of Mancini, Evan N'Dicka and Mario Hermoso is expected to return.

Roma defeated Sorianese 20–0 in a closed-door friendly at Trigoria on 8 October, using the match to sharpen their squad ahead of Sunday's fixture against Como. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini tested the fitness of players returning from international duty, though Argentine forwards Matías Soulé, Leonardo Balerdi and Santiago Castro completed only recovery work following their long journey. Wesley and Donyell Malen featured in the game. Rodrigo Mora (Portugal) emerged as the standout performer and has moved to the forefront of Gasperini's thinking for the number-ten role. The tactical fit explains the decision: Como, like Fiorentina and Atalanta before them, use a four-man defence, and Mora started both of those matches. His recent performances with the Under-21 national team have bolstered his credentials. Mora's skill in disrupting Como's build-up play from deep positions could prove decisive in the contest.

Roma routed Sorianese 20-0 in a training match at Trigoria on 8 October, with Rodrigo Mora and Lorenzo Pellegrini among the standout performers in a session that has given head coach Gian Piero Gasperini fresh insight into his squad ahead of Sunday's fixture at Como. The friendly's primary value lay not in the scoreline—inevitably skewed by the gap in category between Serie A and the Eccellenza Laziale side—but in the individual responses Gasperini observed. The attacking third remains the only genuine area of tactical debate for the Como trip, and Mora and Pellegrini both delivered encouraging displays. Mora, deployed alongside Paulo Dybala in support of Donyell Malen, continues to hold the edge as favourite to start at the Sinigaglia, having returned from Portugal Under-21 duty with strong match sharpness. The Portuguese midfielder arrives with significant minutes on his legs and showed immediate brilliance upon his return. Pellegrini, meanwhile, has made considerable progress in his recovery from a lengthy injury layoff and used the international break to work uninterrupted at Trigoria. He responded well in the test, though Gasperini appears likely to favour Mora's greater match rhythm for the opener—Pellegrini has not featured in an official match for several months and may be introduced from the bench as the game develops. Matías Soulé, by contrast, stands further down the pecking order for Como after only recently returning from Argentina, where he has been completing recovery from his intercontinental travel. The broad picture presents three contenders for one starting spot, but Mora has gained ground on his rivals in recent hours. The outcome will become clear when Roma face Como on Sunday.

Roma face a relentless stretch of nine matches in 28 days with no break, forcing coach Gian Piero Gasperini to deploy his full squad after limiting rotation heavily in the opening weeks. The campaign begins on Sunday with a top-of-the-table fixture against Como, followed within nine days by an encounter with Genoa and then Slovan Bratislava, Napoli, Cagliari, Udinese, Manchester United and Parma. Five of the nine fixtures will be away from home, with minimal recovery time between matches. Gasperini will be without Bryan Cristante for at least another week, but the rest of the squad is available. The first significant change will see Marten de Roon make his competitive debut. The most anticipated rotations will come in attack and midfield. Santiago Castro has featured sparingly while Donyell Malen remains in excellent form, but cannot play every game. In the attacking midfield positions, Matías Soulé, Rodrigo Mora and Lorenzo Pellegrini are all fit and ready; Soulé has been the most frequently used of the three so far this season, Mora has sat on the bench three times in succession, and Pellegrini has not appeared since April but is at full fitness. Gasperini will assess Rodrigo's training performance before deciding the team for Sunday—the Argentine trained in a recovery session on 8 October. The manager is leaning towards starting Mora at Como, deploying Soulé in the following match against Real Madrid, and selecting Pellegrini for the Genoa fixture. Such rotations are necessary given the congested fixture list.

Rodrigo Mora is in line to start on the trequarti for Roma's trip to Como on Sunday, having impressed with Portugal Under 21 with a goal and an assist across three matches. Matías Soulé will train with the main group for the first time on 9 October, while Lorenzo Pellegrini returns after six months out through injury. Mora started today against Sorianese, putting him ahead of both teammates in the pecking order according to Sky Sport. Pellegrini featured in the second half of that friendly. The forward pairing of Donyell Malen and Paulo Dybala is unchanged. At the back, Evan N'Dicka is favored over Leonardo Balerdi, while Marten de Roon steps in midfield in place of the injured Bryan Cristante.

Roma travel to Como on Sunday at 12:30 with the aim of maintaining their position at the top of the table. Gian Piero Gasperini has confirmed that Donyell Malen and Wesley are fully fit after both featured in a friendly played today, recovering from earlier absences. Gasperini has minor doubts in defence but expects to field Gianluca Mancini, Evan N'Dicka and Mario Hermoso as his back three, with Leonardo Balerdi pushing for a place after returning from a trip overseas. Marten de Roon will replace Bryan Cristante in midfield alongside Manu Koné, while Nahuel Molina and Wesley occupy the flanks. Rodrigo Mora is set to start as an attacking midfielder, ahead of Paulo Dybala and Lorenzo Pellegrini, with Donyell Malen leading the line. Roma's probable formation: Svilar; Mancini, N'Dicka, Hermoso; Molina, Koné, De Roon, Wesley; Dybala, Rodrigo Mora; Malen.