Roma's Primavera side drew 1-1 with Manchester United in the fourth matchday of the UEFA Youth League, with Antonio Arena equalising from the penalty spot late in the game. Coach Mattia Scala said the result was a good point, with an excellent second half and a less convincing first half.
Roma started the match well and had an early chance to score. However, they began to struggle against United's passing game, which pulled them across the pitch, and they faded. United took the lead at that moment, although they did not create many big chances. Scala said the team was sorted tactically at half-time, with the players urged to show more courage. Roma brought on three forwards to push for the win. Scala described the United side as more ready than his own. Several of their players born in 2007 were already playing with their Under-21 team, and some had already made their Premier League debuts. Roma had brought many 2009-born players, so Scala said the gap was one of experience rather than technical quality. He added that United had shown themselves to be a very good side.
Scala also confirmed that Arduini and Romero Corredera were called up to train with the first team after the session on the previous day. He said the club was fully available to the first team's needs, and that the staff's preparation had not changed. Scala said the team was going through a very positive period, and that he had seen many tired players who were still ready to give everything. He said the players never give up and that some of them were disappointed not to win. He described this as a sign of maturity and growth. Roma face one more match in this mini-cycle on Sunday before recharging for the restart.
Arena, who scored the 1-1 penalty late in the match, said pressure was normal when trailing 1-0 with a few minutes left. He said he approached the spot-kick with great confidence, as he always tries to do, and that the point was important, away from home against a strong side. He said Roma had played a great second half, playing together, and had deserved the equaliser. On the change after the break, Arena said United had been physical and had handled Roma's pressure well in the second half of the first half. In the second half, he said, the team showed more hunger, ran more and put United under pressure. He said those who came on had done very well, whether defenders or attackers, and that the group is united and never gives up. He added that it was not the first time they had come from behind to get back into a game.
Asked about disappointment, Arena said Roma always want the three points, but that sometimes a point is good too, as the match was not simple. He said the team should be happy with the draw, having suffered and played well together. Looking ahead, he noted the squad returns to Rome after leaving there last Thursday. He described the time away as a little training camp. He said two good performances had come out of it, and that the group gets on well, which he believed had done them a lot of good.
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Roma's Primavera side drew 1-1 with Manchester United in the fourth matchday of the UEFA Youth League, with Antonio Arena equalising from the penalty spot late in the game. GialloRossi.net reports that Thompson had given United the lead on 39 minutes, and that Kilvinger's save on 77 minutes preceded a handball by Thompson that earned the penalty. Coach Mattia Scala praised his team's second-half performance and said the gap with United was one of experience rather than technical quality, since several United players born in 2007 already play for their Under-21 side. Scala also confirmed that Arduini and Romero Corredera were called up to train with the first team. Arena said Roma deserved the equaliser and that the point was important away from home. GialloRossi.net adds that the result lifts Roma to seven points and that their next fixture is an away trip to Paris Saint-Germain on 25 November.
Separately, the first team face Manchester United at Old Trafford in the fourth League Phase match of the Champions League. Retesport reports that Roma are seeking a first away win in the competition since 2018-19, and that Gasperini lost 3-2 at the ground in an earlier Champions League game. Forza Roma says the match kicks off at 21:00 and that Roma will wear their black third kit, worn only once this season in the 3-3 draw with Napoli at the Maradona. Retesport gives the fixture as "tonight," while Forza Roma says "tomorrow," and the outlets do not agree on the date. Predicted line-ups from five Italian newspapers show a 3-4-2-1 with Pisilli behind Soulé and Malen. They differ only on the full-backs, naming Molina, Lulli or Rensch. Forza Roma expects Balerdi to start on the bench, and Gil Manzano will referee.
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