Pruzzo: Roma need a quality player to raise their level

Roman radio debate has focused on Roma's Champions League defeat at Manchester United and the club's league-phase standing, with several pundits arguing Roma would have collected more points on Como's fixture list. Alessio Nardo of Tele Radio Stereo said: "If Roma had had the exact same calendar as Como, Leipzig at home, Feyenoord away, Manchester at home and Lens away, would they have got the same points in the Champions League? In my opinion they would have got one more point than Como... I'm not saying they would have got 12 points, but 10 yes, and so one more than Como." The debate follows Roma's second defeat of the season, a 2-1 loss at Old Trafford, after an earlier defeat to Real Madrid. Rete Sport's David Rossi said he was disappointed and frustrated by the result, but that it did not signal a deeper problem. He said the Lazio result was what disrupted his assessments, noting that had Lazio not done what they did, Roma would be second, one point behind Inter, and people would be talking about a title push. Rossi questioned why Roma did not play the ball out or break up the game when the score was 1-2 against Manchester, adding: "Everyone does it, everyone, only we never do." Tele Radio Stereo's Valentina Catoni argued that with Svilar in goal, Roma would have taken six more points in the Champions League, since they would have won both the games against Real Madrid and Manchester United. She said Svilar would not have conceded the three goals in similar fashion against Real Madrid, and that Roma did not need a change of calendar to make 10 points. Francesca Ferrazza said she was tired of seeing Como above Roma, adding: "I say these things precisely because I would like Roma to be stronger than Como, not to let themselves be pulled back from comebacks and to have a more important squad. It doesn't seem to me that this means being against them." Lorenzo Pes said Como had impressed him with nine goals in the Champions League, playing a very European style of football, and that they would now face PSG and Barcelona. Mario Corsi said the idea that Como had beaten Manchester United because they played at home was nonsense, describing the atmosphere at Old Trafford as "like a big funeral". Petruzzi said the Manchester defeat did not make him step back, seeing a continuous path of growth, while admitting the team were not yet perfect and still had steps to take. He said he was optimistic about the league, where Roma would be in the top places. Piero Torri of Manà Manà Sport raised the future of head coach Gian Piero Gasperini, whose contract expires at the end of the year. He said he was not sure the club wanted to continue with him, not on results but on mutual affinity, while praising him as a coach who had left a mark on European football. Pruzzo of Radio Radio said Roma must lift their heads and reach the international break without forcing the returns of long-term injured players, pointing to Sassuolo as the ideal opponent. Nando Orsi said Gasperini could have made better changes, but that the main issue was the team's stamina over 90 minutes. On the transfer front, Checco Oddo Casano discussed Kvernadze, reportedly with a 4 million euro clause valid in the summer, and said that a deal could be reached in January, or Roma could agree terms with the player to sign him in June for 4 million, which he said would not suit Frosinone.

Roma's Champions League start and the weeks ahead drew a run of comments from pundits on Rome radio and online outlets, gathered by Romanews.eu in its daily column. Roberto Pruzzo, speaking to Radio Radio, said Sassuolo were probably the right opponent for a Roma side that must pick itself up and reach the international break without forcing back players who have been out for a long time. He added: "Injuries, unfortunately, are now part of a football that is increasingly frantic, forcing players into rhythms and efforts unthinkable a few years ago." The sharpest remarks came from Corsi, speaking to TeleRadioStereo, who recalled the talk that Como had beaten Manchester United because they were at home. He said: "Things like that get said by people who love Roma passionately and fiercely. But how can you say something like that? We went to a stadium where protest was ready, and at Old Trafford it felt like a great funeral. Before the comeback at Old Trafford it looked like a funeral." He also said: "There are plenty of people who have to save the president. Business is going very well for him, so we are happy. Como are an extraordinary side, very strong, and the Champions League seems made for them." Trevisani, speaking to Mana Mana Sport, was blunter about Roma's own performances. He said: "Roma made mistakes in the Champions League that Como did not make. Roma could easily have had six points. They deserved to draw with Manchester and Real Madrid." He praised Como's coach, saying he holds the same regard for him as for Gasperini, "a genius", and that "it feels like he is the third heir to Guardiola and Luis Enrique." Trevisani argued that the results against those sides must be analysed in context: "Without the best goalkeeper, without Dybala, and with refereeing and individual errors too. The team makes mistakes as it grows, but the focus must be on the clear growth." Piero Torri, speaking to Mana Mana Sport, said: "Roma's squad is short and will stay that way for another couple of months, because the market reopens only in January. Serie A and the Champions League demand a lot, and that inevitably has a cost. If we add the injury problem, the weight on the team becomes even more evident." Pes, speaking to TeleRadioStereo, was impressed by Como's nine Champions League goals and said their European style suits the competition. He noted that Como have yet to face top-level opposition, with PSG and Barcelona still to come.

Fabio Capello has blamed mental and physical fragility for Roma's collapse in Manchester, where the Giallorossi dominated Manchester United in the first half only to fade completely after the break. Speaking to La Gazzetta dello Sport, the former Roma manager said the defeat at Old Trafford exposed the club's limits in terms of stamina and mental strength, while also stressing the good work the side has shown against Europe's biggest clubs. Capello described a first half in which Roma were in control in every department: aggression, ball recovery, danger and vision. "In the first half Roma were masters of the game, dominant in everything: aggression, ball recovery, danger and vision. It seemed like an easy match, United had never been dangerous (…)" he said. He then asked whether Roma had believed the game was too easy and gone out too relaxed. "In the second half they did nothing, they didn't play, and never had a shot on goal. It looked like the shirts had been swapped, it's true." Capello said United improved considerably after their substitutions, but above all found an aggression that is typical of Roma. "Roma aren't used to facing teams this aggressive, you don't find opponents like that in Italy. And on Tuesday Roma showed mental cracks, in attention and vigour." He also questioned whether Gasperini's players had spent too much in the first half, adding that the intensity of English football made the difference. Asked whether Gasperini's style is simply too demanding, Capello was clear. "Absolutely, it is a very demanding style of football, but also very beautiful. Roma show exciting things, and that is an advantage for Italian football. But when you compare yourself with players who have certain characteristics, it has been seen that resisting for a long time is difficult. Concentration is extremely important (…)." He recalled a similar collapse against Real Madrid, but said that against Madrid the danger was clear: "if you give the Spaniards 15-20 minutes they punish you immediately." In Manchester, he felt, the impression was of general tiredness. "It was not the outstandingly good United, and perhaps that was also the moral key to the match." On the squad, Capello said Roma's group is shorter than last year, but that Gasperini is well placed in Italy with this group. "In Europe you would probably need a higher level." He also pointed to injuries, saying the numbers speak clearly. "Five substitutions help with player recovery, but the fact is that now you play so much and at such close intervals that it becomes difficult to maintain consistency of performance (…)." Capello acknowledged the regret. "There is disappointment, Roma came close to two wins they would have deserved to put in the trophy cabinet. And instead you end up with zero points (…). But these defeats are part of a process. (…) What Roma showed against Real and United cannot be erased. And they did not do it against a team of Scirocco, but against European powers."

Roma return to the Stadio Olimpico on Saturday to host Sassuolo, coached by Aquilani, and face the chance to bounce back straight after their defeat at Old Trafford. Referee Di Bello will take charge of the match, assisted by linesmen Peretti and Scatragli, with Abisso as fourth official. Pezzuto is the VAR, with Guida working as AVAR. The head-to-head record with Di Bello is encouraging for Roma. They have met him 34 times, winning 21, drawing 6 and losing 7. More striking are the recent results: Roma have won all of their last eight matches refereed by Di Bello and have been unbeaten in ten games. Their last defeat under him came on 8 February 2022, when Inter won 2-0 in the quarter-finals of the Coppa Italia. The most recent meeting was on 25 April, when Roma beat Bologna 2-0 at the Dall'Ara, with goals from Malen and El Aynaoui. The focus now is on moving on from the Old Trafford result. Roma have to look ahead and go again, with the future the only thing that counts from here on.

Roma's loan players had a busy week across the Champions League, the Bundesliga, the German Cup, La Liga, Serie C and the Europa Conference League. Neil El Aynaoui was involved in three matches for RB Leipzig, while Luigi Cherubini was back in the Benevento starting line-up and came close to scoring twice. Robinio Vaz has returned to action after a physical problem he suffered against Fulham, and Mohamed Seck helped Foggia to a win. El Aynaoui, a Moroccan midfielder on a loan deal with a buy option, started Leipzig's Champions League defeat to Real Madrid, a 4-1 loss, and played until the 63rd minute. On Saturday he played the full 90 minutes of a 4-0 win over Elversberg. His most eventful match came on Tuesday against Rot-Weiss Essen in the German Cup last 16. He began on the bench, but came on at half-time with Leipzig trailing 1-0 and reduced to ten men after Seiwald was sent off in the 44th minute. Baumgartner scored twice, in the 78th and 82nd minutes, to complete the comeback and send Leipzig through 2-1. El Aynaoui was booked in the 76th minute and played 45 minutes without a goal or assist. The win came after heavy defeats to Bayern Munich and Real Madrid. Cherubini, a winger born in 2004, returned to the starting line-up on Saturday in a 3-0 win at Arezzo. He played 74 minutes and twice came close to scoring, first with a spectacular scissor kick that was saved by goalkeeper Nunziante, then with a shot that hit the post. He started again on Tuesday in a 1-1 home draw with Catanzaro. He won the decisive penalty early in the second half, which Salvemini converted in the 51st minute after Candela fouled him, a decision confirmed by VAR. He was substituted for Saio in the 86th minute. Buso equalised for Catanzaro in added time, in the 92nd minute. Cherubini did not score or assist, but BeneventoNews24 and CalcioBenevento both gave him a 6.5. Mattia Mannini, a midfielder born in 2006, was an unused substitute for both matches, with Floro Flores opting for other players during the second-half changes. Mannini had played for Italy's Under-20 side during the previous international break. Mohamed Seck started at centre-back in Auteri's three-man defence as Foggia beat Cavese 1-0 at the Zaccheria, ending two straight defeats to Potenza and Giugliano. Foggiacalciomania gave him a 6 for a solid performance, noting his willingness to move forward from the defensive line. Goalkeeper Saro saved a penalty from Orlando, and Ravasio scored the winner in the 87th minute. Federico Nardin, a defender born in 2007, started for Pescara in a 2-1 win at Perugia, playing all 90 minutes without a booking. Merola scored twice for Pescara, first from open play and then from a penalty, after Carriero had given Perugia a lead inside the first minute. Radoslaw Zelezny, the Polish goalkeeper for Perugia, played the full match but conceded both Pescara goals, with Merola scoring in the 47th and 51st minutes. Marash Kumbulla, an Albanian defender on loan with a buy option, started for Rayo Vallecano in a 3-2 extra-time win over Recreativo Huelva in the first round of the Copa del Rey. He played 80 minutes after being on the bench for the 3-0 home defeat to Elche. Alemão scored Rayo's equaliser from the penalty spot and then the winner in extra time, with De Frutos also scoring. Anass Salah-Eddine, a Moroccan left-back playing for Panathinaikos, was not used in the 5-1 Conference League win over Kairat Almaty in Kazakhstan on Thursday. He started on Sunday in a 1-0 league win at Volos.

Roma's first team is running smoothly under Gian Piero Gasperini, with well-targeted signings, a recognisable style and young players developing well. The problem lies with the players out on loan in Serie A and abroad, who have struggled to establish themselves. Some were signed under the previous management of Massara, others under Ghisolfi, and some have been drifting between clubs since the Mourinho era. Many of them, if not all, could return to the club in June without having been redeemed, which the article calls a clear loss. Goalkeeper Zelezny is on loan at Serie C side Perugia. He has started every match, but his figures are less impressive: 17 goals conceded in 11 games for a side that was expected to be among the leaders. In defence, Angelino, Ziolkowski and Kumbulla are out on loan. Angelino, who has recently suffered serious health problems, returned to Deportivo La Coruña. He has made only one start, against Sevilla, and was sent off in the 59th minute. Kumbulla has not played a minute for Rayo Vallecano in La Liga and has made just one appearance in the Copa del Rey. Ziolkowski has one appearance on record, due to a serious plantar fascia injury, and is expected back in November. In midfield, El Aynaoui is a regular starter for Leipzig, but his performances have been unexceptional, with a single assist. Leipzig are fifth in the Bundesliga and 29th in the Champions League. Setting aside Romano and Baldanzi, who both have an obligation to buy, Cherubini has made 7 appearances and scored one goal for Benevento. Salah Eddine, who moved to Panathinaikos in September, has four appearances in total, and it is still too early to judge him. Robinio Vaz's start at Hull City has been disappointing: no starts, only a few minutes late in matches, and no goals. The Frenchman cost 25 million in January and is not finding a place in the side as he did under Gasperini. Mannini, who has also moved to Benevento, has no starts. Dovbyk risks returning as early as January. Palladino never picks him, preferring Osteegard in the unusual role of centre-forward given Piccoli's absence. The Ukrainian has scored one goal in four matches, all under Tedesco while he was still in charge at Bologna.