Mourinho blames Gasperini for Vinicius's difficult display in Roma defeat

Roma face Genoa at the Stadio Olimpico on 17 October at 20:45, with former Roma manager Daniele De Rossi in charge of the visitors. The fixture comes immediately after Roma's Champions League outing against Real Madrid, and represents a significant test for both sides. Genoa arrive buoyed by their first Serie A victory of the season, a 2–1 defeat of Fiorentina in their last match, in which Milutin Osmajic scored and provided an assist. That win broke a ten-match winless run stretching back to the end of the 2025–26 season and lifted Genoa clear of the relegation zone; across their last five league games they have recorded one win, one draw and three defeats. De Rossi's return to the Olimpico carries symbolic weight. The Genoa manager built his entire playing career at Roma, making 616 official appearances and scoring 63 goals—the second-highest appearance tally in the club's history behind Francesco Totti alone. He managed Roma's first team between January and September 2024, overseeing 30 matches before his dismissal, and this will be his second visit back as Genoa's coach. In last season's Serie A meetings between the clubs, Roma won 3–1 at home on 29 December 2025, with Matías Soulé, Manu Koné and Evan Ferguson among the scorers, before Genoa took the return 2–1 at the Ferraris on 8 March 2026, a result that remains their last victory over Roma. Roma have not lost at home to Genoa for 23 consecutive Serie A matches, a run stretching back to 17 January 1990. Osmajic has emerged as Genoa's principal attacking threat, scoring three goals in five Serie A appearances for the club. De Rossi is expected to deploy a 4–4–1–1 formation, with Junior Messias operating behind Osmajic and Stephan El Shaarawy on the left wing—another former Roma player. The midfield will centre on Morten Frendrup for intensity and ball recovery, alongside Hamed Traorè for build-up play. Genoa's last two consecutive Serie A victories over Roma came in 2011; De Rossi's side will hope to extend their momentum after a turbulent start to the season. Roma, managed by Gian Piero Gasperini, will be looking to restore their dominance at home. Genoa have won only once in their last five games and remain fragile defensively—the foundation on which Gasperini will build his approach to contain De Rossi's compact, counter-attacking setup.

The Curva Sud presented José Mourinho with a bronze Capitoline she-wolf dating from 1925 before Roma's match against Real Madrid, delivering an emotional tribute to the former manager. The gift came accompanied by a letter from the ultras expressing their gratitude. The letter read: "Mister, we did not have time to thank you and say goodbye, and so we do it today. Thank you for giving us back dignity, pride and the ability to dream. This is worth more than any victory. Some of us who are no longer here said: 'We have not won much, but it was enough to win once to say that we had won more than everyone'. We have therefore come to you, on behalf of the entire Curva Sud, to tell you thank you. This Capitoline she-wolf means that Roma recognises you as her son. Thank you forever, Mister." The match itself proved bittersweet, but the day belonged to Mourinho's reunion with the Stadio Olimpico crowd. Chants, banners and tears marked an irreplaceable moment that the manager acknowledged had never been afforded to him before. Mourinho's tenure regenerated Roma's entire environment after his appointment in 2021, restoring the club's competitive standing and emotional foundations. The Portuguese coach's return this week brought waves of affection from supporters who credit him with fundamental change at the Giallorossi. On 16 October, Mourinho responded to the outpouring of support with a message on social media: "When the most beautiful moments of a long career are neither goals nor victories, but rather emotions for which I can only humbly express my gratitude. Thank you Roma, thank you Romanisti. Emotions and eternal gratitude to you." His reply typified what supporters describe as his distinctive style—delivered with characteristic grace and emotion rather than fanfare.

Gian Piero Gasperini has demanded energy, courage and an immediate victory as Roma prepare to face Genoa on the back of a 3–4 defeat to Real Madrid in the Champions League. Speaking at his pre-match press conference, the Roma head coach made clear his intention to shield the group and chart a swift course back to winning ways, acknowledging the emotional toll of the heavy loss but insisting the objective is to continue playing with courage and freedom rather than chase the Champions League or the Scudetto. The squad faces a significant injury crisis. Manu Koné is sidelined with a muscle injury, Paulo Dybala is recovering from fatigue, and five other key players are unavailable, forcing Gasperini to draw on Roma's youth academy. The squad of outfield players has been reduced to sixteen, prompting the head coach to send a message to the club: modern football demands at least twenty players of similar calibre to withstand the pace of cup competition. Santiago Castro, Rodrigo Mora and other academy graduates are ready to turn the difficult moment into a chance for their futures. Gasperini highlighted Roma's ability to compete with anyone—evidenced by recent matches against Inter, Como and Real Madrid—but stressed the need to eliminate the lapses in concentration that have cost them. He also noted Genoa's greater tactical organisation compared to Real Madrid's approach.