Roma fans welcome the club back to elite European football with Trigoria message

Former Roma sporting director Walter Sabatini has heaped praise on the club and head coach Gian Piero Gasperini, highlighting the squad's collective spirit as the key to the team's current form. Speaking to Il Foglio, Sabatini focused on the group's cohesion and the influence of Gasperini, who he said has taught the side the orthodoxy of winning. Sabatini said: "Spiritual cohesion is a superior factor. Roma are going through this collective state of mind: Gasperini teaches the orthodoxy of winning, he is a coach who makes you take giant steps." For Sabatini, Roma's progress comes not only from results but also from the identity built within the squad and the coach's ability to drive the group forward. Sabatini also commented on the spectacular 3-3 draw with Napoli, a match he described as a positive sign for Italian football as a whole. He said: "The 3-3 with Napoli is a tonic for Italian football. Both teams played very well, producing a battle that honours the ball: when we are at this level, everyone must chase Serie A." Roma now turn their attention to an away trip to Udinese, a fixture that carries weight in the table. The same day also features Milan-Inter and Juventus-Napoli.

AS Roma have marked the 96th birthday of Giorgio Rossi, the club's long-serving physiotherapist, born on 31 October 1930. The club paid tribute on social media with a message praising him as a timeless example of loyalty and belonging to the club's colours. Rossi was a constant presence in giallorosso for 55 years, from 1957 to 2012, a whole life dedicated to Roma. He was part of the club's two Serie A title-winning sides, in 1983 and 2001. On his birthday, Roma wanted to honour him once again as a man who embodied loyalty, passion and belonging as few others in the club's history have. The club's post read: "Il 31 ottobre 1930 nasceva Giorgio Rossi, esempio senza tempo di lealtà e appartenenza ai nostri colori." In English: "On 31 October 1930, Giorgio Rossi was born, a timeless example of loyalty and belonging to our colours."

AS Roma have marked the birthday of Giorgio Rossi, the club's longtime masseur, with a special message on their social media channels. Today, 31 October, is the day of his birth, and the club wrote: "Timeless example of loyalty and belonging to our colours." Rossi spent 55 years at the club, from 1957 to 2012, and was a constant presence in the giallorosso set-up throughout that time. He also played a part in the club's two Scudetti, in 1983 and 2001. Known to Luciano Spalletti as "the president of the dressing room", he was remembered by the coach as a figure of huge importance to the club's history. Rossi died on 23 September 2018, and his death left a deep void, though his memory remains intact among Roma supporters. The article describes Rossi as an institution whose influence on the club is difficult to capture fully, a life lived entirely in the yellow and red of Roma and felt as a protagonist in two title-winning seasons. His legacy continues to be honoured by the club and its fans on the anniversary of his birth.

Roma will not return to the capital after their away win in the league, and have instead gone straight on to Manchester for Tuesday evening's Champions League clash with Manchester United at Old Trafford. To keep travel to a minimum, the club decided to stay in the Friuli region after the victory at the Bluenergy Stadium. Gian Piero Gasperini's side spent the night in Friuli and will hold a light recovery session at the Friulian club's training centre. The squad will then travel by coach to Trieste in the afternoon before flying to England. The trip is effectively a mini training camp designed to tighten the group and avoid wasting physical energy, according to Il Tempo. Paulo Dybala is set to miss the trip's main assignment: unless he recovers in extremis, the Argentine forward will be ruled out of Tuesday's match. Sporting director Tony D'Amico backed a cautious approach before the game, saying: "Dybala needs a few more days, we will see mmidweek." Gasperini echoed that line, admitting that a return before the international break for Dybala, Koné and Svilar is a difficult goal, to be assessed day by day. The eve-of-match schedule includes Gasperini's press conference at 18:20, accompanied by a player, followed by a rehearsal on the Old Trafford pitch.

Roma defender Daniele Ghilardi has scored his first goal, a strike that ended a match at Udinese, and has already drawn interest from AC Milan and Juventus. Roma have now scored 28 goals in ten matches this season and 36 in total including the three in the Champions League, with 14 different scorers so far. Ghilardi's goal came at the end of the match, when he was cramping in his calves. He said: "Sono molto contento. Ho calciato con tutta la forza che avevo. Era fine partita, avevo i crampi ai polpacci. Ero morto, stavo facendo stretching e non mi hanno visto". The goal follows earlier strikes from Emanuele Lulli, who scored against Genoa and Cagliari, and the article notes that Ghilardi is another young player to find the net. Milan and Juventus have already targeted him, but the focus at the club is not on his future. Ghilardi also teased his team-mate about his celebration. He said: "Ho esultato meglio di Emanuele ma perché lui non era abituato, io ne ho fatti due in B e uno in C. Ci sono volute più di due stagioni per farlo in A". Evan N'Dicka closed out a strong display in Udine, leaving no space for Davis and finishing with a 100% record in duels won, four recoveries and four clearances. Bryan Cristante was named man of the match after scoring his third goal against Udinese. Roma now turn their attention to Manchester United. The squad trained at Udinese's sports centre this morning and travel to England this afternoon. There are no fitness setbacks, but Mile Svilar, Paulo Dybala and Manu Koné will not be available.

Roma coach Gian Piero Gasperini spoke to DAZN after Udinese 2-5 Roma, admitting his side dropped their level in the second half after going 0-4 down. Gasperini said he did not know why even the teams fighting for the top positions have small problems, adding that the drop-off was normal after the 0-4 scoreline, although he had told his players at half-time not to concede. Roma face Manchester in three days, and Gasperini noted that this has been the 8th match in less than 20 days. He said a lack of concentration had crept in: "We conceded a goal from distance, then this ugly one we wouldn't have conceded otherwise, a sign that we had switched off a bit. As soon as we accelerated a little, we were dangerous." Gasperini also spoke about the fixture congestion, which has Roma playing three times a week. He said: "A period this long with matches three times a week, I struggle to remember it. Maybe it happened in February, when I won the Europa League with Atalanta, but that was a different period. This is a phase I don't remember like this. These are high-level matches and difficult ones, so there is fatigue. After the next break, however many commitments there are, they will be a little fewer." He pointed to the absences of Svilar, Koné, Dybala and Pellegrini, adding that rotating the squad and giving everyone game time has helped. On his squad, Gasperini said: "I'm fortunate to have all the players, young and less young, who give great availability. The young ones always give it because they want to emerge and improve. I have a fantastic mix, we may have other faults, but the availability is there." He also praised Ghilardi's goal, saying: "He was unlucky because against Slovan they disallowed a goal, but he still had the desire inside to score, and today he managed it." Gasperini concluded on the condition of Koné, Svilar and Dybala: "I hope they recover before the break. In theory all three could, like no one else: this week is decisive."