Radio pundits split on Ghilardi, Mora and Champions League priorities as Roma prepare for Slovan Bratislava

Former Atalanta forward Aleksandar Pesic, now at Fatih Karagumruk, has described Roma head coach Gian Piero Gasperini as the best coach he has ever worked under, calling him "unreachable". Pesic made the comments to the MeridianSport website. He played for Atalanta in the 2016-17 season, when Gasperini was in charge of the club. Pesic ranked Gasperini above every other coach he has played for. Asked to name the best, he said: "He is number one, with Farioli right after him." He has been coached by many leading managers, including Diaz, Slaven Bilic, Farioli and Casanova, but he said he still tells everyone that Gasperini is unreachable. Pesic also allowed for a rival to catch up. He said: "It is possible that Farioli will manage to surpass him in terms of results, but Gian Piero remains number one."

Piero Torri has said that managing De Roon's workload will not be a problem once Cristante returns before Roma's match against Napoli. Torri said: "I think the management of De Roon will not be a problem with Cristante's return before the match with Napoli. For a 35-year-old player, four matches in ten days are a question mark, and I think he deliberately played part of the first half with the awareness that he had to reach the ninetieth minute. He grew into the game." His comments were part of a round-up of views from Rome's radio stations. The pundits reviewed Roma's recent performances. Francesco Balzani said Roma's Saturday match against Genoa began with some anxiety and a period of adjustment. He said he had feared the fixture because Roma were missing several regular starters and because of a possible knock-on effect after the Real Madrid game. The positives, he said, were Lulli and Castro, and the fact that Roma have a clear game plan. He added that he expects Roma to rarely play badly this season and that he would be disappointed if they finished below second place. Balzani also gave his view on Mora: "Mora can do more, and this leaves me calm. What I see him do right now tells me he is a great player, but Saturday's match was not one for a great player. He reads the lines of the pitch well, and with the ball I see he always knows what to do. He needs to become more streetwise, and without the physique he must strengthen himself mentally in some movements." Roberto Pruzzo, on Radio Radio, said: "Earlier I said that Castro could be Gasperini's Muriel, and I was totally rejected because he has different characteristics. I still think he can work alongside Malen, given the need for a different solution." On Mora, Pruzzo said: "In January I would think about finding him a solution. I don't think it is the time to have a prospect... in my view he is too far behind. When he brings him on, he plays a half, when he plays him. Perhaps you find a more physical solution. And in midfield an effort had to be made, because De Roon alone cannot be enough." Simone Valdarchi reflected on Roma's resilience: "Roma have always been quite good at reacting to complicated evenings. The match against Inter at Easter remains Roma's last league defeat. After that game the Champions League chase began, which at that point seemed very distant. The team instead reacted. In this case Gasp has his reasons for saying he never had doubts about this aspect."

Former Italy international Andrea Pirlo has praised Roma head coach Gian Piero Gasperini, while urging caution over comparisons for defender Leonardo Balerdi and questioning the fee paid for Rodrigo Mora. Speaking on Arab broadcaster Shasha Sports, Pirlo spoke after Roma returned to winning ways with a 2-0 victory over Genoa, which erased the heavy defeat to Real Madrid. Pirlo said Gasperini had been an innovator over the last 10 years: "Negli ultimi 10 anni è stato un innovatore, ha fatto vedere qualcosa di diverso, quindi è uno di quelli che hanno dato qualcosa di più al calcio italiano." He added that the coach had also won in Europe and deserves recognition as an innovator, because many coaches copy him. In Pirlo's words: "E questo vuol dire che hai lasciato un segno e stai continuando a farlo." On Balerdi, Pirlo said it was premature to compare him with Franco Baresi, a figure he described as the history of Italian and world football and a reference point for all defenders. "Buon giocatore, molto intelligente e aggressivo, si abbina bene a quello che vuole Gasperini," Pirlo said, adding that Baresi played in a completely different way but certainly had personality. Pirlo was more sceptical about Rodrigo Mora. He said: "Sono molto curioso di rivederlo, lo hanno pagato tanto. Mi piace? Vediamolo, bisogna vederlo. Per ora non mi ha ancora rubato l'occhio, i soldi che hanno speso mi sembrano tanti, spero di sbagliarmi." In English, he said he was very curious to see him again, that the club had paid a lot for him, and that he had not yet caught his eye, adding that the money spent seemed a lot and that he hoped to be wrong.

Roma host Slovan Bratislava at the Stadio Olimpico on Tuesday 20 October in the Champions League league phase, a third-matchday fixture kicking off at 21:00, as Gian Piero Gasperini's side look for their first win in the competition. Roma have one point from two games after a draw with Fenerbahce and a 4-3 defeat to Real Madrid, while Slovan are still on zero points. Roma return to Europe on the back of a 2-0 Serie A win over Genoa, coached by Daniele De Rossi, at the Olimpico on Saturday, with goals from Castro and Lulli in the second half. Gasperini rotated heavily after the demanding Real Madrid game. Slovan have lost both opening matches heavily, 6-1 to Paris Saint-Germain and 3-0 to Stuttgart, before a 3-0 away win over Spartak Trnava in the league. Roma's injury list remains long. Mile Svilar is out with a stress fracture to the fifth toe of his foot, so Pierluigi Gollini is expected to keep his place in goal. Manu Koné is sidelined by a first-degree muscle tear suffered against Real Madrid, and Bryan Cristante is aiming to be back for the Serie A match against Napoli. Paulo Dybala has also been ruled out: he initially seemed set to attempt a return for the Champions League, but the latest tests revealed a small calf injury, and Gasperini said he will be out for about another two weeks. The expected Roma side is a 3-4-2-1 with Gollini; Mancini, N'Dicka and Hermoso in defence; Lulli, de Roon, Pisilli and Wesley in midfield; Soulé and Pellegrini behind Malen. Balerdi remains a possible option in central defence, while Lulli is favoured over Molina for the wing-back berth. Pellegrini is in contention with Mora for a place alongside Soulé. Roma's bench would include De Marzi, Vásquez, Balerdi, Koulierakis, Ghilardi, Rensch, Molina, Mora and Castro. Slovan Bratislava are expected to line up in a 4-2-3-1 under Yaya Touré, the formation they used in their recent European outings. Takac is in goal, with Blackman, Bajric, Markovic and Sandro Cruz in defence, and Mustafic and Pokorny in front of them. Barseghyan, Cristian Martinez and Camara are favoured for the attacking midfield, with Sporar leading the line and Griger pushing for a start. Slovan report no suspended players and no significant absences, and should have most of their squad available. The two clubs have met only twice in European competition, in the 2011/12 Europa League play-offs. Slovan won 1-0 away, and Roma could only draw 1-1 at the Olimpico, sending the Slovaks through 2-1 on aggregate. Tuesday's match is the first meeting between the two sides in the Champions League. The match will be broadcast live on Sky Sport and streamed via Sky Go and NOW. Official line-ups will be confirmed about an hour before kickoff at 21:00 on Tuesday 20 October, and will be available as a live update on the Romanews page.

Roma's young centre-back Daniele Ghilardi has reportedly caught the eye of Milan, with the Rossoneri said to be looking for defensive reinforcements in January and including his name among the profiles they are monitoring. The report comes from transfer journalist Matteo Moretto on his YouTube channel. Ghilardi came on in the final minutes of Roma's 2-0 win over Genoa at the Stadio Olimpico, a result that reflected the work Gian Piero Gasperini has done in developing young players and the depth of the squad. From Trigoria, the position is said to be clear: Roma are unlikely to part with the 2003-born defender. Ghilardi is regarded as an excellent prospect for both the present and the future of the club, and Gasperini rates him on a par with the other members of the defensive unit. Barring a dramatic change of course, the player is expected to remain at Roma to fight for his chances and carve out a larger role for himself. The win over Genoa was built on Roma's young resources and squad depth, and Ghilardi's late appearance was used to protect the result. Milan's interest is framed around the winter transfer window in January, when the Rossoneri are seeking to strengthen their back line. Roma's stance, as reported, is that Ghilardi is a key part of the defensive group rather than a player available to leave.

Donyell Malen is set to lead the Roma attack against Slovan Bratislava after serving his league suspension, with Santiago Castro expected to drop to the bench. Paulo Dybala could also return to the bench, with today's training session to be decisive in determining whether he is available for selection. The club's main aim remains having him available for Saturday's match against Napoli. Corriere della Sera reported the story. Roma continue to put their faith in young players. Against Genoa, the starting XI had an average age of just 24.5, with seven players born after 2003 alongside the 35-year-old Marten de Roon. Daniele Ghilardi, Wesley and Di Nunzio all came on in the second half. Behind the scenes, the plan to create an Under-23 side remains alive. CEO Galantic has already identified it as a necessary step to support development between the Primavera and the first team. The costs are reportedly around 20 million euros, and a suitable stadium has yet to be found, although the intention is to speed the project up. Il Messaggero reported these details. Castro's goal against Genoa, scored in his first start for Roma, has drawn attention to his situation. Il Messaggero compares his position with that of Vincenzo Montella in the Scudetto season. Back then, the 'Aeroplanino' had to share the spotlight with Gabriel Batistuta, while Castro now needs to find his place behind Malen. The Genoa strike, for its quality and technique, has been described as "proprio alla Montella", meaning very much in the Montella style. Il Messaggero also reported this comparison.

Roma host Slovan Bratislava at the Stadio Olimpico on Tuesday 20 October in the Champions League league phase, a third-matchday fixture kicking off at 21:00, as Gian Piero Gasperini's side look for their first win in the competition. Roma have one point from two games after a draw with Fenerbahce and a 4-3 defeat to Real Madrid, while Slovan are still on zero points. Roma return to Europe on the back of a 2-0 Serie A win over Genoa, coached by Daniele De Rossi, at the Olimpico on Saturday, with goals from Castro and Lulli in the second half. Gasperini rotated heavily after the demanding Real Madrid game. Slovan have lost both opening matches heavily, 6-1 to Paris Saint-Germain and 3-0 to Stuttgart, before a 3-0 away win over Spartak Trnava in the league. Roma's injury list remains long. Mile Svilar is out with a stress fracture to the fifth toe of his foot, so Pierluigi Gollini is expected to keep his place in goal. Manu Koné is sidelined by a first-degree muscle tear suffered against Real Madrid, and Bryan Cristante is aiming to be back for the Serie A match against Napoli. Paulo Dybala has also been ruled out: he initially seemed set to attempt a return for the Champions League, but the latest tests revealed a small calf injury, and Gasperini said he will be out for about another two weeks. The expected Roma side is a 3-4-2-1 with Gollini; Mancini, N'Dicka and Hermoso in defence; Lulli, de Roon, Pisilli and Wesley in midfield; Soulé and Pellegrini behind Malen. Balerdi remains a possible option in central defence, while Lulli is favoured over Molina for the wing-back berth. Pellegrini is in contention with Mora for a place alongside Soulé. Roma's bench would include De Marzi, Vásquez, Balerdi, Koulierakis, Ghilardi, Rensch, Molina, Mora and Castro. Slovan Bratislava are expected to line up in a 4-2-3-1 under Yaya Touré, the formation they used in their recent European outings. Takac is in goal, with Blackman, Bajric, Markovic and Sandro Cruz in defence, and Mustafic and Pokorny in front of them. Barseghyan, Cristian Martinez and Camara are favoured for the attacking midfield, with Sporar leading the line and Griger pushing for a start. Slovan report no suspended players and no significant absences, and should have most of their squad available. The two clubs have met only twice in European competition, in the 2011/12 Europa League play-offs. Slovan won 1-0 away, and Roma could only draw 1-1 at the Olimpico, sending the Slovaks through 2-1 on aggregate. Tuesday's match is the first meeting between the two sides in the Champions League. The match will be broadcast live on Sky Sport and streamed via Sky Go and NOW. Official line-ups will be confirmed about an hour before kickoff at 21:00 on Tuesday 20 October, and will be available as a live update on the Romanews page.

Gian Piero Gasperini overhauled his Roma side for Saturday's home match against Genoa at the Stadio Olimpico, changing seven players and leaving out four starters who were available, alongside the five players already sidelined. The result, according to Lorenzo Pes writing in Il Tempo, was a side that showed a different face and a willingness from its young players to make a mark. The starting eleven had an average age of 24.5 and included five players born in 2004 or later. Il Tempo's report notes that the night belonged in particular to Santiago Castro and Lulli, who were celebrating their first win in giallorosso, although the 90 minutes against former Roma man Daniele De Rossi revealed more than that. Castro, who started for the first time, had a patient introduction. Playing alongside the prolific Donyell Malen is no easy task, and the Argentine waited his turn. He had consistently made positive impacts from the bench in the early games, before three consecutive bench spells and some early grumbling from supporters. Against Genoa, however, he showed why Roma chose him, providing the magic needed to unlock a difficult match. Gasperini can count on him, and the coach knows it, as the season is still long and difficult moments will come. Having another striker of his calibre can make a real difference. Lulli and Castro headlined the day, while Koulierakis and Mora also featured in a game that Gasperini built around a mix of first-time starters and trusted performers. The match underlined the depth Gasperini has been developing, with the squad's youngsters stepping forward rather than waiting for a chance to come along.

Roma fielded their youngest side in five years in the 2-0 win over Genoa, with an average age of 24 years and 362 days, the second-youngest Roma XI since May 2021 when they faced Crotone. Seven Under-23 players started or came on: Castro, Mora, Lulli, Rensch, Koulierakis, Pisilli and Soulé. The match was shaped by injuries and tactical choices, and Gian Piero Gasperini gave significant minutes to a group that is increasingly central to the club's plans while the squad B project is being prepared for next year. The standout figure was Emanuele Lulli, a 2007-born full-back who scored the decisive second goal to make the final score 2-0. That goal made him the second-youngest scorer in this Serie A, behind only Simone Lontani of Parma. In the new millennium, only two Italian players younger than Lulli, who is 19 years and 61 days old, have scored for Roma: Alessio Romagnoli, who was 18 years and 50 days old in 2013, and Stefano Okaka, who was 17 years and 39 days old in 2006. Lulli's rise is a story of homegrown development. Last year he was playing intermittently with the Primavera side, and years earlier he had been released by the Roma academy before being brought back by Tor Tre Teste thanks to a late gesture from Bruno Conti and a recommendation from scout Marco Albergati. Gasperini, who has believed in him from day one, was visibly delighted by the way he has developed. Rodrigo Mora represents the club's biggest investment for both the present and the future. Roma paid 25 million euros for the Portuguese winger, with a further 25 million due next season, subject to sales that would still trigger a 50% sell-on percentage for Porto. He has yet to fully confirm his potential but has shown flashes of class, technique and important quality. Gasperini is shaping him day by day so that he fits the tactical setup of the team.

Roma face Slovan Bratislava in the Champions League on Tuesday 20 October at 21:00 at the Stadio Olimpico, just two days after beating Genoa on Saturday evening. Gian Piero Gasperini addressed the fixture at his press conference, stressing that his side will not underestimate their opponents because they need to win to keep their qualification hopes alive. Gasperini said: "We will not underestimate the opponent because we need to win to fuel our chances of going through. To reach the playoffs we need 10 points, starting from this match." Roma go into the match with a fresh fitness concern, as Paulo Dybala is set to be out for at least two weeks. Lorenzo Pellegrini, who sat alongside Gasperini at the press conference, is likely to start tomorrow. Pellegrini said: "I'm well. The annual contract was the club's choice, my priority was Roma." Two places in the starting line-up remain open heading into the match. One is the central defensive berth, a choice between Leonardo Balerdi and Evan N'Dicka, with the former ahead in the race. The other is the right-back spot, where Emanuele Lulli or Nahuel Molina are in contention, with Lulli currently ahead. Slovan Bratislava head coach Yaya Touré also spoke at his press conference: "Great respect for Roma and for Gasp, here the details count."

Roma's probable starting line-up for their meeting with Slovan has been published, with Gian Piero Gasperini reportedly bringing back the No. 23 and Mario Hermoso returning to the defence. Gianluca Mancini is expected to start, while Soulé and Pellegrini are set to operate behind Malen. The central defensive berth is a contest between Leonardo Balerdi and Evan N'Dicka. Molina is pushing Lulli for a place at right-back, and in midfield Marten de Roon and Niccolò Pisilli are expected to start. Beyond the selection, the wider build-up has also produced news on the injury front. Paulo Dybala has a small tear and is expected to be out for a period, while Gasperini has said Roma need 10 points to qualify for the playoffs and that Dybala's recovery will take longer.

Roma host Slovan Bratislava at the Stadio Olimpico on Tuesday 20 October in the Champions League league phase, a third-matchday fixture kicking off at 21:00, as Gian Piero Gasperini's side look for their first win in the competition. Roma have one point from two games after a draw with Fenerbahce and a 4-3 defeat to Real Madrid, while Slovan are still on zero points. Roma return to Europe on the back of a 2-0 Serie A win over Genoa, coached by Daniele De Rossi, at the Olimpico on Saturday, with goals from Castro and Lulli in the second half. Gasperini rotated heavily after the demanding Real Madrid game. Slovan have lost both opening matches heavily, 6-1 to Paris Saint-Germain and 3-0 to Stuttgart, before a 3-0 away win over Spartak Trnava in the league. Roma's injury list remains long. Mile Svilar is out with a stress fracture to the fifth toe of his foot, so Pierluigi Gollini is expected to keep his place in goal. Manu Koné is sidelined by a first-degree muscle tear suffered against Real Madrid, and Bryan Cristante is aiming to be back for the Serie A match against Napoli. Paulo Dybala has also been ruled out: he initially seemed set to attempt a return for the Champions League, but the latest tests revealed a small calf injury, and Gasperini said he will be out for about another two weeks. The expected Roma side is a 3-4-2-1 with Gollini; Mancini, N'Dicka and Hermoso in defence; Lulli, de Roon, Pisilli and Wesley in midfield; Soulé and Pellegrini behind Malen. Balerdi remains a possible option in central defence, while Lulli is favoured over Molina for the wing-back berth. Pellegrini is in contention with Mora for a place alongside Soulé. Roma's bench would include De Marzi, Vásquez, Balerdi, Koulierakis, Ghilardi, Rensch, Molina, Mora and Castro. Slovan Bratislava are expected to line up in a 4-2-3-1 under Yaya Touré, the formation they used in their recent European outings. Takac is in goal, with Blackman, Bajric, Markovic and Sandro Cruz in defence, and Mustafic and Pokorny in front of them. Barseghyan, Cristian Martinez and Camara are favoured for the attacking midfield, with Sporar leading the line and Griger pushing for a start. Slovan report no suspended players and no significant absences, and should have most of their squad available. The two clubs have met only twice in European competition, in the 2011/12 Europa League play-offs. Slovan won 1-0 away, and Roma could only draw 1-1 at the Olimpico, sending the Slovaks through 2-1 on aggregate. Tuesday's match is the first meeting between the two sides in the Champions League. The match will be broadcast live on Sky Sport and streamed via Sky Go and NOW. Official line-ups will be confirmed about an hour before kickoff at 21:00 on Tuesday 20 October, and will be available as a live update on the Romanews page.