Roma chase Champions League qualification in historic derby, Mancini hailed as people's hero

Former Roma defender Vincent Candela has predicted that Roma will defeat Real Madrid in their upcoming Champions League match at the Olimpico in ten days' time. Speaking at the FIP Gold Mediolanum Padel Cup in Perugia, Candela said: "It will be a celebration. I think Roma will win. I don't say it as a fan, but because I look at the characteristics of Gasperini's squad and the comparison with Mourinho's." Mario Hermoso has established himself as a cornerstone of Gasperini's Roma, impressing with his adaptability to the coach's tactical system. The club is now preparing to open contract renewal talks with the Spanish defender. Hermoso is seeking a two-year extension that would take his contract to 2029, but Roma's policy for players over 30 typically involves annual renewals. Both sides have expressed a willingness to continue together, with negotiations expected in the coming weeks. Elsewhere, Roma's interest in Frosinone's Giorgi Kvernadze—a Georgian prospect born in 2003 who has impressed early in the season—has prompted Frosinone president Maurizio Stirpe to distance the player from the market. Stirpe told the Corriere della Sera: "The possible sale of Kvernadze? Today it's only talk, I haven't received any phone calls. I only ever wait for official and concrete proposals." No formal offers have been made for the right-footed winger, whom Gasperini is reportedly keen to add to his squad.

Vincent Candela, the former Roma defender, has predicted that Roma will beat Real Madrid in their upcoming Champions League fixture, citing the tactical qualities of Gasperini's squad. Speaking at the FIP Gold Mediolanum Padel Cup in Perugia, Candela reflected on Roma's recent 2–2 draw against Inter and the momentum it has built. "The Inter squad is one against which it is not easy to play. It has always scored at least two goals and then often won. Against Roma, though, that did not happen. It gave even more drive, confidence and self-awareness," he said. Candela also expects Roma to push Inter hard in the Serie A title race, with Como further back. He highlighted the upcoming fixture against Real Madrid as a tactical showcase between two different managerial approaches. "It will certainly be a fine match from a tactical point of view; Gasperini and Fabregas are two different coaches, but both have a well-defined personality," Candela stated. The former defender singled out forward Donyell Malen for particular praise, saying: "I believe very much in Malen: he is strong, dynamic, sees the goal and is concrete." Gasperini has shifted Malen from his habitual role, and Candela expects significant returns. "I think he will reach beyond 20 goals and will have a great season," he predicted. On Roma's challenge against Real Madrid in ten days at the Olimpico, Candela was emphatic: "It will be a celebration. I think Roma will win. I do not say this as a fan, but because I look at the characteristics of Gasperini's squad and the comparison with Mourinho's."

Former Roma defender Candela has backed the Giallorossi to win their upcoming Champions League match against Real Madrid. Speaking at the FIP Gold Mediolanum Padel Cup in Perugia, Candela expressed confidence in Gasperini's squad, saying: "I think Roma will win." He qualified the prediction as more than just fan sentiment: "I don't say it as a fan, but because I look at the characteristics of Gasperini's team and the comparison with Mourinho's." Roma arrive at the league break in first place with four wins and a draw — the 2–2 result against Inter at the Olimpico. Candela believes that match demonstrated Roma's potential and gave the team "even more drive, confidence and self-awareness." He rates Inter as still the favourites for the Serie A title, with Roma as their closest challengers and Como further back. The next league fixture is against Como, which Candela described as "certainly a beautiful match from a tactical point of view; Gasperini and Fabregas are two different managers, but both have very clear personalities." Candela also made a bold prediction about forward Donyell Malen, whose form has impressed this season. "I believe very much in Malen: he is strong, dynamic, he sees the goal and is clinical," Candela said. "I think he will reach more than 20 goals and will have a great season." The Real Madrid match at the Olimpico is scheduled for ten days' time and Candela called it "a celebration": a Champions League night at home.

Gianluca Mancini spoke on the eve of Italy's match against Turkey, expressing his enjoyment of the recent period with the national team. The Roma defender said: "A supporter must have faith and we must have faith in ourselves," while discussing Italy's recent revival under Luciano Montella. Mancini is looking to end his international assignment with a strong performance.

Marco Materazzi, the former Inter player and 2006 World Cup winner with Italy, has publicly backed Gianluca Mancini as the best defender in Serie A. Speaking at the Trento Festival to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Materazzi demonstrated his affection for the Roma defender, whom he has long been an idol to — Mancini wears the number 23 both for Roma and for Italy in tribute. Mancini is no stranger to Materazzi's admiration. When asked to rank Serie A's top defenders, Materazzi named Mancini ahead of Bisseck, Rrahmani, Akanji, Chalobah, Pavlovic, Balerdi, Ramón, Solet, Gila, Hermoso and Alaba. For Balerdi he noted: "You know he's a fan of mine and I'm his idol, so Mancini." On Gila he said: "I can't vote for a Milanista." When it came to Inter players, however, Materazzi's heart took over. Asked to choose between Mancini and John Stones, he replied: "Stones, he's Inter." The English defender prevailed over Scalvini and Bremer, but ultimately finished behind Alessandro Bastoni in Materazzi's final ranking.

Gian Piero Gasperini spoke at the Festival dello Sport on 2 October about the foundations of his Roma project, the character of his squad, and the club's ambitions this season. The coach outlined how he has built the team around a clear playing philosophy focused on taking the ball rather than waiting for opponents, and how he has shaped the personalities of senior players to match that vision. Gasperini praised his defensive line as "one of the best in Europe," highlighting Mario Hermoso and Gianluca Mancini as examples of players with both technical quality and the fighting spirit he demands. He also emphasised Bryan Cristante's importance as a player who sacrifices individual prominence for the collective good. On Paulo Dybala, Gasperini said the Argentine has enjoyed an exceptional start to the season with no injuries disrupting his availability: "He still has the enthusiasm to play football, you can see he is well. There have been years of physical fragility, with injuries that held him back. I always thought it was a training matter... He has remarkable fibre, he started training properly and this start to the season is extraordinary. He doesn't miss a minute." Gasperini suggested Dybala's reluctance to shoot from distance stems from past injuries but believes he will regain that ability soon. On young players, Gasperini explained his approach to developing Emanuele Lulli and Niccolò Pisilli. He brought Lulli into the first team after observing his characteristics in pre-season training. Regarding Gianluca Romano, whom Roma have sold, Gasperini said: "Another young player grown in Roma, very interesting. I was sorry he was excessively criticised after his first Nazionale match, but it is adults who must be more cautious in their judgements. Romano's sale is a capital gain; often societies are forced to sell young players, this is not a good thing. In football the finest jewels must be allowed to grow." On Donyell Malen's arrival and early goal-scoring form, Gasperini explained: "At times planets align and things happen you think are unrealisable. We needed a striker because Dovbyk was injured. There were several names, then I came to know of this opportunity. He was leaving Aston Villa for a tactical reason, he wanted to play as a centre-forward and I have always thought he must play in the penalty area. This his ability to make three very quick touches is his weapon." When asked if Malen could match the 36-goal tallies of Gonzalo Higuaín and Ciro Immobile, Gasperini replied: "I hope so, I've told him that to motivate him... If he reaches 30 goals I would be happy anyway." On Roma's prospects and the atmosphere at the club, Gasperini said: "It was a very positive surprise; outside Rome it is described as an environment that swings back and forth. I found passion and enthusiasm, beautiful but also mature attachment. At this moment the fans are happy and recognise themselves in this squad, then clearly the maximum result would be extraordinary. But the environment is beautiful, there is a desire to play well to enthuse them." He also commented on the new stadium project, saying he had seen the rendering and it was "fantastic" but that the Olimpico in Roma's colours is already "beautiful, though the stands are far from the pitch." Regarding Roma's centenary in 2027, when the first stone of the new stadium will be laid, Gasperini reflected: "A hundred years is a milestone of experience and for me also of emotion. Think of how many people have carried this society forward, how many fans have dedicated their lives to Roma. You must carry all the history without renouncing it, to have an even better future. Roma's second centenary will be even more beautiful than the first."