N'Dicka: 'We deserved more' after Roma's Champions League opener at Fenerbahçe

Roma drew 1–1 with Fenerbahce in their Champions League opener at the Chobani Stadyumu, with Bryan Cristante scoring for the Giallorossi and Brown replying for the Turkish side. Mason Greenwood, who was heavily linked with Roma during the summer transfer window before joining Fenerbahce, was one of the standout figures in the match. After the final whistle, Roma head coach Gian Piero Gasperini sought out Greenwood and the pair embraced, marking the end of an extended summer pursuit that had aimed to bring the winger to the capital.

Gian Piero Gasperini praised Roma's performance in a draw against Fenerbahce, but identified defensive vulnerabilities in the second half as an area requiring urgent attention. The head coach said the team produced a good display in difficult circumstances, playing against opponents who sat deep and looked to break on the counter-attack. Gasperini acknowledged Roma conceded from a poor exit when deployed low on the pitch. "We came out badly for the goal. It happens when we are deep and set. We certainly need to work because we cannot always play high, especially in the Champions League. There was a wrong exit," he said. He was satisfied with the impact of substitutes, singling out Leonardo Balerdi and Niccolò Pisilli for particular praise. Rodrigo Mora, introduced in midfield, struggled to make the anticipated impact despite his pace. Marten de Roon was brought on late to secure the result. When asked about Roma's recurring problem of conceding at the start of the second half, Gasperini said: "Two clues make a proof, but not everything is explainable; sometimes there is chance. From next time we must be careful at the start of the second half."

Mile Svilar spoke to reporters after Roma's 1–1 draw with Fenerbahçe at the Şükrü Saraçoğlu stadium in Istanbul, Roma's opening match in the 2026–27 UEFA Champions League. The goalkeeper reflected on a one-on-one save he made early in the contest, saying he read the shot and stopped it with his feet. On the goal he conceded, he explained: "I tried to do the same thing but I wasn't able to stay high." He acknowledged the intensity of Champions League football, noting that both sides created chances. Svilar assessed the draw positively in the context of Roma's overall performance. "We were better in our play. The draw is not bad, but with our football, as we've shown in the league, I think we'll be able to earn more points," he said.

Evan N'Dicka spoke after Roma's opening Champions League match at Fenerbahçe's Şükrü Saracoğlu stadium on the 2026–27 campaign. The defender reflected on an intense, physical contest in which Roma dominated possession but could not break down Fenerbahçe's defensive approach. N'Dicka said: "They have physical players. I don't seek contact, but if they come at me I have to defend." On Roma's performance, he added: "A positive showing. We had the ball and we did more. They stayed deep and that makes it difficult. We tried, we deserved more but we take the point." Roma came to Istanbul with ambitions of victory but ultimately drew, leaving N'Dicka with optimism about the campaign ahead. He stated: "Yes, when the match starts we are focused. We came here to win and we will go to every ground to win." The result marked Roma's entry into the Champions League group phase, to which they qualified as third-place finishers in Serie A 2025–26.

Evan N'Dicka delivered a commanding defensive display and spoke to Sky Sport after Roma's match, assessing a performance he felt merited a better outcome. The defender contained opposing forwards across both halves and kept Roma's defensive shape tight throughout, describing the contest as high-intensity and physically demanding. N'Dicka praised Roma's overall showing. "Very positive performance," he said. "We did more, they stayed very deep. It's difficult with 8–9 players in front of the goal; they played on the counter-attack. We deserved more but we take this point." On the physical demands he faced against strong opponents, he added: "Yes, they are physically strong. I don't look for that thing... if they come what must I do? I must defend and so we are physical." Looking ahead to Roma's Champions League campaign, N'Dicka struck an optimistic note. "Yes, then when the match starts we are concentrated," he said. "We came here to win, as on every pitch."

Roma drew 1–1 away at Fenerbahce in their Champions League league-phase opener on 8 September, a result that showed the team's character despite clear deficiencies. Bryan Cristante's opening-half strike — described as a billiard-shot effort — silenced the home crowd, but Brown equalised early in the second half as Fenerbahce's higher tempo began to dominate. The performance was far from Roma's best, yet the visitors held firm under pressure and salvaged a point from a hostile environment, leaving with the conviction that they possess genuine quality to work with. The match exposed both strength and weakness. Roma controlled the first half with personality and grit, dictating the rhythm and finding the breakthrough through Cristante. The second-half collapse was swift and collective — Gianluca Mancini was caught napping in the opening moments of the resumption — and Fenerbahce pressed hard thereafter, forcing Roma's rearguard into a defensive grind. Mile Svilar made a crucial save from Muriqi and was also prodigious in stopping Brown's attempt, yet could do nothing about the equaliser itself. Evan N'Dicka's performance was standout, standing firm against Muriqi and later against other threats, refusing to be intimidated and disrupting the home side's attacking plans. Mario Hermoso similarly managed the task of containing Greenwood, forcing the English winger to switch flanks repeatedly. Other defenders sent mixed signals. Devyne Rensch provided solid cover but fell asleep during a key moment that nearly made it 2–1 to the hosts; he was replaced on 73 minutes by Molina. Mancini's first-half work was solid, given the fluid defensive shape Roma adopted, but his lapse at the start of the second half cost dearly. Bryan Cristante earned praise as the match's most diligent performer, working countless balls and converting his chance with precision; he later earned a booking for a careless turnover in midfield. Manu Koné performed without obvious error in a physically demanding contest and was substituted on 52 minutes, reportedly for tactical reasons rather than injury. Wesley, however, drew a five-rating, fading badly after a strong previous season and losing the ball dangerously to Svilar at one point. Matías Soulé and Paulo Dybala both battled heavy marking, with Dybala nearly earning a clear penalty at one stage. Donyell Malen made the key pass for Cristante's goal but found few other openings. Coach Gian Piero Gasperini stuck to his philosophy: "Do not abandon our nature," he insisted, and Roma obeyed, showing maturity and refusing to collapse despite conceding. His substitutions from the bench, however, did not yield the same cutting edge they produce for his Atalanta side.