Pisilli emerges as Gasperini's extra man: runs, scores and claims a special record

A weekly ratings column assesses the key performers and moments from Serie A's opening fixtures, with Roma players featuring prominently in a mixed picture. Manu Koné earns a score of 9 for his commanding midfield display, twice striking the Inter crossbar and dominating the first half across every blade of grass against the Nerazzurri. Bryan Cristante receives a 7 for his defensive work in the same match — interdiction, distribution, repositioning, and heading support — controlling the opening period and protecting Roma's most vulnerable moments after the break. Donyell Malen rates a 6 despite an afternoon below his usual standards: he created two dangerous movements in the box with attempts that came close to both finding the target, a quality few Serie A players possess, though he felt the full weight of opposition defending in the second half. The column reserves harsh judgment for Gianluca Mancini's error, scored 3. His mistake allowed Inter to halve the deficit and, more significantly, undermined the defensive certainty Roma had built during the first half. The ratings also address controversial moments from the week: the non-award of a penalty to Rowe at Turin receives a 4, particularly questionable given a similar incident at Venice; Lecce's defensive phase is rated 2; and a minute of non-silence at Turin — moments when spectators failed to respect a tribute — earns a 1 for the behaviour itself, with a 0 reserved for those who attempted to justify the disrespect by invoking other historical wrongs in football. The column opens with a 10 for Sandro Mazzola, the Inter legend and symbol of football heritage, and closes on a broader point about accountability: those defending the conduct of some Juventus supporters by citing historical incidents at Heysel are, the writer argues, regressing to the law of retaliation rather than recognising a need to transcend such cycles.

Roma have conceded a goal at the start of the second half in three consecutive matches—against Atalanta, Fenerbahce, and Inter—and head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has identified the pattern as a genuine tactical problem rather than coincidence. After the Inter match, Gasperini said: "Perhaps we were presumptuous", acknowledging that the flaw exists within an otherwise faultless team. The international break arrives at a critical juncture. While it interrupts Roma's rhythm and momentum, it also provides three weeks to address the issue without the pressure of immediate results. Gasperini is known for his obsessive approach to coaching and will use the time to work on the problem. The article suggests that Roma's dream of becoming genuine contenders hinges on eliminating this single defensive weakness; every other element of the team's performance has been described as operating flawlessly. The core issue appears to be mental rather than technical: players may believe they have delivered enough in the first 45 minutes and unconsciously relax at the start of the second half, creating the opening in which opponents score. While the quality of opposition cannot be ignored, truly elite teams must beat elite teams consistently. Gasperini has previously demonstrated his ability to reshape a player's mentality, using Paulo Dybala as an example of successful psychological coaching. The path forward requires daily work without compromise, focusing on mental discipline as much as physical conditioning. The article notes that while other managers grant rest during international breaks, Gasperini continues intensive training sessions with the squad members who remain available, viewing this continuous effort as essential to embedding the necessary mindset changes.

Manu Koné claimed the headlines after his double against Inter in a commanding midfield display, but Roma's engine room has already delivered five goals across Serie A and the Champions League this season. Koné and Niccolò Pisilli have each scored twice—Pisilli sealing the finales against Fiorentina and Torino—while Bryan Cristante marked his Champions League debut with a goal at Fenerbahçe. Cristante, known for his long-range shooting and prowess from set-pieces, represents one of the squad's sharpest finishers from distance and in headed situations. Roma sit top of the table and have shown marked improvement on the same stage a year ago, building on the momentum of the final matches of last spring. Training resumed at Trigoria from yesterday with a limited squad available, and the club awaits the resumption of action against Como, which remains some time away.

Gianluca Mancini has become the subject of fierce criticism on social media after losing possession 50 metres from goal in Roma's recent match against Inter, a mistake that led to Lautaro Martinez scoring to reopen the contest. The backlash has been swift and unforgiving, with supporters on social networks reversing their judgment of a player they had celebrated for his derby heroics, his displays of the Roma flag to the Curva Sud, and his willingness to cut his salary to remain at the club. The shift in sentiment mirrors a broader contemporary football phenomenon: judgement rendered from the armchair, divorced from the physical realities of elite sport. The article notes that Mancini's mistake, while real, did not directly assist Inter's goal—the team had to develop the play further before Martinez finished with a technical strike. Beyond that single error, his display against Inter was not disastrous. A week earlier, at Turin, Mancini had been among Roma's best performers; in the 93rd minute, with the team defending a narrow advantage and several players exhausted, he fought on the sideline and contributed the decisive work in the build-up to Niccolò Pisilli's goal that made it 2–0. In seven days, he has moved from catalyst to liability in the court of online opinion. The article invokes a point made by Daniele De Rossi: "From the armchair everyone is good. Because from the armchair there is no tiredness, pressure, preventive marking, seventy metres covered in transition, heavy legs or opponents earning millions precisely because they know how to exploit mistakes." Mancini may indeed be fatigued; recent displays have offered subtle signs. With the arrival of Leonardo Balerdi and Konstantinos Koulierakis, coach Gian Piero Gasperini now has defensive alternatives and the freedom to rotate. The article emphasises that Gasperini, not social media, must decide whether Mancini plays less—and that decision should come from observing him in training and matches, not from a frozen frame posted on social media. The difference between critiquing an error and declaring a player suddenly incapable remains meaningful, the article concludes, "at least until the next match."

Roma's midfield has become the engine driving the club's strong start to the season, with centrebacks contributing five goals across Serie A and the Champions League so far. The standout moment came from Manu Koné, who scored twice against Inter at the Olimpico in what the club sees as his breakthrough performance. Beyond Koné's brace, the midfield has drawn on contributions from nearly all its members, showcasing a collective potency that is pushing Roma towards the top of the league. Niccolò Pisilli has emerged as an extraordinary box-to-box threat, remarkably having scored ten goals for Roma with all of them coming after the eightieth minute. Bryan Cristante combines defensive work, equilibrium and distance shooting, demonstrated in the first half against Inter. Koné, whom Gasperini considers a central player capable of changing the team's level, was notably absent last season and his presence is being keenly felt. Gasperini is evaluating rotations across the group, including the possibility of using Lorenzo Pellegrini more regularly in the heart of midfield—an idea sketched out last year and now being applied. Marten de Roon has featured less frequently but will be incorporated into the rotation plans. This depth of midfield options becomes crucial when attackers like Donyell Malen must drift wider to escape opposing markers. Roma's midfield strength underpins the club's remarkable run of thirteen consecutive results without defeat stretching back to last April in San Siro, a streak that best illustrates the squad's growth. The team prepares for the match against Como from the top of the table, bolstered by that unbroken sequence of performances across league and cup competition.

Manu Koné claimed the headlines after his double against Inter in a commanding midfield display, but Roma's engine room has already delivered five goals across Serie A and the Champions League this season. Koné and Niccolò Pisilli have each scored twice—Pisilli sealing the finales against Fiorentina and Torino—while Bryan Cristante marked his Champions League debut with a goal at Fenerbahçe. Cristante, known for his long-range shooting and prowess from set-pieces, represents one of the squad's sharpest finishers from distance and in headed situations. Roma sit top of the table and have shown marked improvement on the same stage a year ago, building on the momentum of the final matches of last spring. Training resumed at Trigoria from yesterday with a limited squad available, and the club awaits the resumption of action against Como, which remains some time away.