Pruzzo on Roma's shortcomings after Real Madrid loss

José Mourinho has addressed Roma supporters following his return to the Olimpico as an opponent, managing Real Madrid against the club he previously led. In a message to the Giallorossi faithful, Mourinho expressed his gratitude for the emotions and welcome he experienced during his time with Roma. "When the most beautiful moments of a long career are not goals or victories, but rather emotions for which I can only humbly express my gratitude," Mourinho wrote. He concluded with a direct farewell: "Thank you Roma, thank you Romanisti. Emotions and eternal gratitude to you. José." The message underscores the enduring bond between Mourinho and a significant section of Roma's support, despite Wednesday evening's encounter seeing the Portuguese manager return to the stadium as an adversary.

Roma radio personalities have weighed in on the tribute paid to José Mourinho by the Curva Sud during a recent match. Rossomando, speaking on Radio Radio Manà Manà Sport, said the ovation lasted three to four minutes and saw nothing unusual about it. "Mou has always been a favourite of the fans, so it was something that could happen," he stated. Conflitti, also on Radio Manà Manà Sport, took a more measured stance on the reception. "On the question of the welcome for Mourinho, I believe we must respect both the position of those who chose to sing and put up banners, and that of those who say it was something excessive," he said. The exchange reflects differing views among Roma's supporter base and media regarding how to mark Mourinho's legacy following his departure from the club.

Michele Criscitiello, director of Sportitalia, has strongly condemned Roma supporters for the warm welcome they gave José Mourinho when the club faced Real Madrid at the Olimpico. The fans marked the occasion with songs and banners for the former manager who returned a European trophy to Roma more than 50 years earlier, but Criscitiello argued the display crossed a line. Criscitiello accused the fanbase of behaving like "a small club" by lavishing such an ovation on Mourinho for winning the Conference League, which he dismissed as "just a small cup". He contrasted the reception unfavourably with what Inter supporters had done to celebrate their treble, suggesting Roma fans had overstepped reasonable bounds. The criticism also extended to the current setup under Gasperini, with Criscitiello suggesting the excessive tribute to Mourinho amounted to a slight against the new coach. "An out-of-place welcome for Mourinho," Criscitiello said. "Roma won only a Conference, which is a little cup. You've shown yourselves to be a small fanbase—I could have expected an ovation like this from Inter for the treble, but for a little cup like the Conference League they've made Mourinho into a god. It makes no sense. 'Eternal Roma', for what? For winning the Conference? I'm astonished by a reception like this. Mourinho didn't even care—he took the three points and went back to the Bernabéu. Players and managers are mercenaries. A round of applause would have been enough. Instead you've shown disrespect to Gasperini, who is working his socks off for this team. You've proven you're a small fanbase and a small city, even abroad."

Roma must rebuild mentally after their defeat to Real Madrid, with centrefield damage threatening to complicate their immediate recovery. Manu Koné is feared to have suffered a muscle injury that could sideline him until after the next international break, similar to Mile Svilar's absence timeline. Bryan Cristante will attempt to return for the Napoli away match, leaving Roma's central midfield options severely constrained for the Genoa fixture. Paulo Dybala's situation is more encouraging: the Argentine could even make the bench tomorrow despite the problem he sustained against Real Madrid. The mental challenge will define Roma's response; the technical gap over Genoa is clear on paper, but overcoming the psychological weight of the European night will be the real test. Gasperini's decision to speak at the pre-match press conference signals an attempt to rebuild group cohesion and restore energy after the European disappointment. In attack, a three-man unit of Soulé, Rodrigo Mora and Santiago Castro is gaining prominence, aided by Donyell Malen's suspension. Emanuele Lulli could feature on the flank in place of Nahuel Molina, with further defensive changes possible. Daniele Ghilardi may start, though it remains uncertain how much Gasperini will overhaul a back line already subjected to frequent rotation in recent weeks. A probable Roma XI shapes as: Gollini; Ghilardi, N'Dicka, Hermoso; Lulli, Marten de Roon, Niccolò Pisilli, Wesley; Soulé, Mora; Castro.

Roma travel to the Olimpico to face Genoa in Serie A's seventh matchday on 17 October, seeking to recover from a heavy defeat to Real Madrid in the Champions League. The hosts will be without five key players: goalkeeper Mile Svilar, midfielder Bryan Cristante and Manu Koné, forward Paulo Dybala, and winger Donyell Malen, who is suspended. Marten de Roon will anchor Roma's midfield against Genoa's Morten Frendrup in what promises to be a physically and tactically demanding encounter. De Roon has integrated rapidly into Gasperini's system, a football philosophy he knows intimately from his years at Atalanta. The Dutch midfielder brings experience, positional intelligence and balance to both phases of play, intercepting opposition passing lines while maintaining simple but effective possession management. He has made three league appearances totalling 122 minutes and recently scored his first Champions League goal of his career, at 35 years old, against Real Madrid. The loss of Cristante and Koné has elevated his importance to Roma's central midfield control. Frendrup, by contrast, embodies intensity and dynamism. The Danish midfielder has become a cornerstone of Genoa's campaign, appearing in all six league matches as a starter and accumulating 540 minutes without substitution, though he has yet to register a goal or assist. His game centres on ball recovery, pressing opposition players and maintaining high intensity across all 90 minutes. Under Daniele De Rossi's management, Frendrup's role will be crucial in limiting Roma's possession and preventing the giallorossi from finding space between the lines. The clash will pit de Roon's experience and reading of the game against Frendrup's pace and the physical, tactical pressure of one of Genoa's most consistent performers this season.

Roma's radio stations dissected a difficult Champions League defeat to Real Madrid on Wednesday and looked ahead to Saturday's Serie A fixture against Genoa, with broadcasters divided on whether the 3–0 loss represented a damaging setback or an isolated collapse against a vastly wealthier opponent. David Rossi on Rete Sport argued perspective was essential: Real Madrid's squad value stands at around €1.5 billion compared to Roma's €498 million—triple the gap—and Roma had been weakened by injuries to Svilar, Cristante and Koné, who came off after 15 minutes. He also noted Roma had played an entire first half in ten men against Como only days earlier. Gianluca Piacentini agreed the performance merited credit, noting Roma had been excellent for 80 minutes and calling the final ten minutes an anomaly that should not define the season. Mario Corsi acknowledged Roma were pressured late but flagged the anomaly of conceding three goals from corners: "you can't concede a goal to every throw-in from the corner flag, otherwise it would have ended 18–3." He attributed the collapse to character and mentality rather than tactics. Lorenzo Pes on Tele Radio Stereo expressed concern about constant defensive rotation, saying: "Changing all these defenders generates some confusion—I don't know if it's wise to always change so much at the back." He expects Koné to return after the international break, hoped for his comeback against Manchester United, and anticipated Cristante would target recovery for the Naples fixture. Daniele Lo Monaco on Radio Romanista linked recent injuries to the international break, suggesting Koné's injury after 21 days away was telling: "I'm not saying they don't train in the national team, but we know how much they work." Roberto Pruzzo on Radio Radio said Roma lacked "those 2–3 players who throw the ball in the Tiber"—shorthand for missing decisive midfielders—and called this week's loss one of the worst defeats of recent times. Mario Mattioli critiqued Konstantinos Koulierakis's positioning in the final minutes, saying he "wandered around in the middle like a lost soul" with no clear marking. Gasperini must revive Roma's mood before Genoa arrive on Saturday; Nando Orsi warned that a 3–0 scoreline leaves lasting damage in the dressing room, though he expected Roma's recent form to overcome a side struggling tactically. The international break looms, with attention turning to Manchester United and Slovan Bratislava in the Champions League.

Roma's midfield has been plunged into an emergency with Bryan Cristante sidelined, Manu Koné unavailable, and 35-year-old Marten de Roon facing the prospect of playing every match in a punishing fixture schedule. Gasperini currently has only two senior midfielders available in de Roon and Niccolò Pisilli, and is likely to ask Lorenzo Pellegrini to drop deeper into midfield. The club faces seven matches in 24 days beginning with tomorrow's fixture against Genoa, with a January transfer reinforcement not ruled out for the remainder of the season. The crisis is forcing Gasperini to look to Roma's youth ranks, mirroring his approach last season with Romano. Francesco Panico, born in 2007, is the leading candidate for promotion. The midfielder was aggregated for the team's preparation before the Real Madrid match and has been evaluated by Gasperini in pre-season training. Panico joined Roma's academy in 2021 from Real Cesarea and won the Under 17 title, signing his first professional contract in the summer of 2024. He represents Italy at youth level, holding caps for the U18 national team, and is one of the cornerstones of Roma's Primavera squad under coach Mattia Scala. Gasperini could include him in the squad for tomorrow's match against Genoa.

Roma face Genoa at the Olimpico on Thursday at 20.45 after a devastating Champions League defeat to Real Madrid on Wednesday night, when the club conceded three goals in seven minutes to lose a match they had dominated for 70 minutes. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini must rebuild morale quickly, drawing on the squad's awareness of their own quality to avoid a repeat of last season's collapse. After Roma surrendered a 3–1 lead to Juventus in a late turnaround, they lost to Como and Genoa and exited the Europa League to Bologna. The injury toll threatens to derail the recovery. Mile Svilar and Bryan Cristante were already sidelined; Manu Koné and Paulo Dybala have now joined them on the casualty list. Koné left the field in tears after 15 minutes with a hamstring strain that raises fears of a muscle tear. Dybala has a calf complaint and is likely to be rested against Genoa ahead of fixtures against Slovan and Napoli in a congested schedule. Both players are due for medical tests on Thursday. Donyell Malen is suspended, further stretching the squad's options. Gasperini is expected to field Rodrigo Mora, Niccolò Pisilli and Santiago Castro from the start in attack. A defensive reshuffle may see Leonardo Balerdi replace either Mario Hermoso or Evan N'Dicka. With Koné potentially facing a lengthy absence, midfield cover is tight and Lorenzo Pellegrini will be asked to drop deeper to provide support.

Roma must rebuild on the fly after a devastating collapse against Real Madrid in the Champions League left them with a mounting injury list and fractured morale ahead of tomorrow's trip to Genoa. The 3–4 defeat, in which Roma led 3–1 before conceding three goals in seven minutes, has forced Gasperini to contemplate a squad stripped of key personnel: goalkeeper Mile Svilar and midfielder Bryan Cristante are injured, Paulo Dybala and Manu Koné picked up injuries during the Real Madrid match, and forward Donyell Malen is suspended. Five men who, regardless of how Gasperini categorises his team roles, represent core pillars of Roma's season so far. Koné's condition is the most pressing concern. The French midfielder was withdrawn after just 15 minutes against Real Madrid, visibly distressed, and will undergo medical assessment today. The fear is a hamstring injury that could force him into an extended absence. Dybala is also being assessed, though initial indications are more encouraging, though only the tests will confirm the severity. Against Genoa he is expected to sit out. The midfield will bear the greatest pressure without both Cristante and Koné simultaneously: Marten de Roon will have to anchor the department again, with Niccolò Pisilli set for substantially more playing time and Lorenzo Pellegrini potentially dropping deeper. However, the issue extends beyond the starting eleven—the depth of alternatives has been drastically reduced. In attack, with Dybala sidelined and Malen suspended, Rodrigo Mora and Santiago Castro will see their share of responsibility increase. Gasperini may also rotate in defence, with Leonardo Balerdi a possible option. The real danger lies not simply in the absences but in how they arrive. Roma have expended enormous physical and emotional energy over a night in which they dominated Real Madrid for over 70 minutes, built a 3–1 lead, and watched it dissolve in seven minutes. That scale of deflation carries heavy psychological weight, and the fixture schedule offers almost no time for recovery. Gasperini must work on two fronts: reconstructing a squad with minimal options and several young players suddenly thrust into greater responsibility, and convincing the group to draw what was positive from the Real Madrid display—their ability to trouble an opponent of that calibre—without being dragged down by frustration at victory snatched away. The opponent carries additional emotional weight: Genoa are managed by Daniele De Rossi, Roma's former captain, who described Roma's performance against Real Madrid as "truly frightening", notwithstanding the errors from set-pieces. Roma must win tomorrow not only for the table but to prevent the loss to Real Madrid becoming anything more than a single defeat. They arrive exhausted, wounded, and with half their formation to rebuild.

Paolo Condò analysed Roma's Champions League defeat to Real Madrid in an exclusive interview, emphasising the growth the club demonstrated despite the loss. Roma were the strongest of the four Italian sides to lose in the competition this week, and held Real Madrid at bay for 80 minutes before conceding twice more to lose what Condò described as a painful collapse. Condò highlighted the defensive vulnerability that emerged when Mancini and Hermoso were substituted. "When they came off, the defence fell apart," he said. "We were missing the player who, at 3–3, would say 'we're not playing this game any more and we finish it like this'. Ultimately the pitch seemed to slope in Real Madrid's favour—they always have at least four world-class players fresh on the pitch at the end." He argued that Endrick, the Spanish club's young forward, decided the match and that Mancini's absence was critical: "I believe if Mancini had been on the pitch Roma would not have conceded three goals from corners." Condò noted that Roma's character was evident in midfielders Bryan Cristante and Manu Koné, defender Gianluca Mancini, and goalkeeper Mile Svilar, though he felt their personalities were not fully deployed in the closing stages. On Roma's standing in Serie A, Condò was clear: "Roma remains the most credible anti-Inter candidate, and there are two proofs: they are the only side to have taken points from Inter, and they drew against Como with ten men." He assessed that Roma went closer to victory when at full strength, while in numerical disadvantage they conceded little. Condò also observed that Como, under Fabregas, has fallen behind Gasperini's Roma since that match.

Roma face Genoa at the Stadio Olimpico on Saturday 17 October at 20:45 in Serie A matchday seven, aiming to return to winning ways after a 4–3 Champions League defeat to Real Madrid. The Giallorossi drew 0–0 against Como and 0–0 against Inter before the Real Madrid loss; they have not won since facing Torino. Genoa, managed by Daniele De Rossi, won their first match of the season last time out, beating Fiorentina 2–1. Gasperini will make changes to his squad following injuries sustained against Real Madrid. Manu Koné left the pitch in the first half with a muscle problem, while Paulo Dybala was substituted at half-time with a muscular strain; both remain under assessment as of 15 October, with recovery timings unclear. Mile Svilar is out with a fractured toe, Bryan Cristante with a knee problem, and Donyell Malen suspended following his red card against Como. Roma last won on matchday six against Torino. In Gasperini's 3–4–2–1 formation, Pierluigi Gollini will start in goal with Gianluca Mancini, Evan N'Dicka and Mario Hermoso in the three-man defence. Emanuele Lulli and Wesley are set for the full-back positions, with Marten de Roon and Niccolò Pisilli in midfield. Santiago Castro will lead the attack in place of the suspended Malen, Matías Soulé will play behind him, and Rodrigo Mora is favoured to complete the attacking line if Dybala cannot recover; Lorenzo Pellegrini is an alternative. De Rossi's Genoa are likely to line up in a 4–4–1–1 with goalkeeper Bijlow, but a 3–5–2 with Vitinha alongside the striker remains possible. Roma hold a dominant record at the Olimpico against Genoa: across 65 official matches played in the capital, the Giallorossi have won 48, Genoa 9, with 8 draws. Most recently Roma won 3–1 on 29 December 2025; before that, on 17 January 1990, Genoa last won at the Olimpico, prevailing 1–0. The official lineups will be confirmed before kickoff. The match will be broadcast on DAZN and Sky Sport, with streaming available through NOW and Sky Go according to subscription level.

Real Madrid won 4-3 against Roma on 14 October in a match that carried special significance for José Mourinho, who returned to Stadio Olimpico as an opponent for the first time since his spell in charge of the club. Roma supporters demonstrated their affection for the former manager with dedicated banners honouring him throughout an intense encounter. After the final whistle, Mourinho greeted three Roma players — Gianluca Mancini, Lorenzo Pellegrini and Paulo Dybala — in conversation in the plaza outside Stadio Olimpico near the team coaches.