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Radio Roma on Fenerbahçe: Pes will not settle for a draw
·9 September 2026·45d ago

Radio Roma on Fenerbahçe: Pes will not settle for a draw

Source: Forza Roma

Rome's radio stations aired their verdict on Roma's opening Champions League fixture in Turkey, with opinion split between caution and optimism. Roberto Pruzzo, speaking on Radio Radio, said Roma arrive in the best condition for this opening Champions match, with the squad well prepared and good alternatives available, though he expressed concern over midfield depth. He cautioned against repeating Inter's mistake from the previous day, when a lapse in concentration made a comeback difficult. "You must not give anything away and be concrete to the maximum," he said.

Nando Orsi noted that playing in Turkey is always difficult, with Fenerbahçe fielding experienced players who will be motivated to progress in the cup. He expected Gasperini to adapt Roma's usual league approach, arguing that boldness alone does not guarantee success unless a team is Manchester City's calibre. "Roma will need to exploit this physical condition, which can make the difference," Orsi said. Lorenzo Pes, on Tele Radio Stereo, was more bullish: "Against Fenerbahçe it will be hard, but Roma is perfectly capable of winning in Turkey, and I would not sign for a draw." Pes observed that Fenerbahçe have quality in certain positions but do not play particularly well, and will likely adopt a waiting approach while seeking to exploit counterattacks, especially through Greenwood. "Roma has all the chances to win. Gasperini is a guarantee and knows how to handle matches like this," Pes concluded.

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Story Coverage5 sources on this story

Roma began their Champions League campaign with a 1–1 draw away to Fenerbahçe on 8 September, a result that preserved their unbeaten record but exposed defensive vulnerabilities. Cristante gave Roma an early lead with a fine strike, but the Giallorossi were outplayed after the break and conceded through defender Brown following a lapse in concentration. Mile Svilar made crucial saves to keep Roma in the match. However, outlets differ on the narrative arc: Forza Roma describes a second-half collapse where Roma were dominated, while N'Dicka and Svilar emphasize that Roma controlled possession and territorial dominance throughout, with Fenerbahçe defending deep and hitting on the counter. N'Dicka stated: "We had the ball, we did more. They were very deep, and then it's difficult when you have eight or nine players in front of the goal. We deserved more, but we take this point and move on." Svilar acknowledged that "a draw is fine, it's not bad, but I think we can put more of our game on the pitch."

Off the pitch, Fenerbahçe coach Ismael Kartal announced his resignation during the post-match press conference, telling journalists he was stepping down "for the good of the club and the squad." Fenerbahçe president Aziz Yildirim immediately refused to accept the decision, attributing Kartal's resignation to an incident during the match in which a bottle was thrown at him. Yildirim stated he had spoken with Kartal about the pressure and medication, and declared: "As long as I am here, he will remain the coach. He cannot leave."

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Testo Originale / Source Text

“Quello delle radio romane è un fenomeno che non ha eguali nel resto d'Italia. Una pluralità di stazioni che fungono da piattaforma, una schiera di giornalisti, ex calciatori e opinionisti ad animare lo spettacolo. Ecco le opinioni dei protagonisti delle emittenti radiofoniche: Roberto Pruzzo (Radio…”

Read the full article in Italian at Forza Roma.

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