Roma's two faces: a shift in mentality under Gasperini

José Mourinho will return to the Olimpico tomorrow evening as Real Madrid's manager for the first time since his dismissal by the Friedkin Group ownership, facing a Roma squad transformed under Gian Piero Gasperini. The Olimpico will warmly receive the former coach who delivered the night in Tirana and took Roma to a Europa League final in Budapest, but the team on the pitch will bear little resemblance to the one he left behind. Gasperini outlined the philosophical shift after Roma's 0–0 draw at Como. "Mourinho has left an extraordinary memory and affection in the people," he said. "Now, though, our squad is very different from the one that played with him." The difference lies less in individual players than in tactical approach and match management. When Roma drew 0–0 against Leverkusen in May 2023 under Mourinho, they defended the away goal with ninety minutes of suffering and deep defensive blocks. Yesterday at the Sinigaglia, the same scoreline came through a more confident display: Roma played without fear, created chances and pushed for the goal even after Donyell Malen's red card in the second half, then reorganised with lucidity and order without losing composure. Gasperini's central innovation has been emotional control. Facing setbacks—such as Malen's dismissal—the manager encouraged his players to continue playing their football while making tactical adjustments to manage the match and secure a legitimate point. Under Mourinho in similar circumstances, emotional tension would often overwhelm the team, leading to protests or exaggerated defensive retreat. The current Roma side has learnt to preserve its identity even when complications arise. Yet a strong thread connects both eras: team spirit. The defensive resilience shown at Leverkusen appears today in the hunger with which Roma imposes itself on the pitch and suffers united under pressure. Gasperini stressed the human element after the final whistle: "It is a squad that is giving me great satisfaction, because it really took great heart to play like that at Como." Tomorrow against Real Madrid and its former boss, Roma will need both that heart and the new tactical maturity gained in recent months.

Roma's 0-0 draw at Como revealed a significant shift in Gian Piero Gasperini's tactical identity, demonstrating both defensive resilience and a willingness to accept a hard-fought point when circumstances demand it. The result, secured while playing more than a third of the match with ten men, drew praise from the coach for his team's refusal to surrender. Gasperini said: "I celebrated for the spirit we showed on the pitch until the ninety-fourth minute. Playing more than a third of a match in numerical inferiority against this Como without ever stepping back is a big deal." The performance marked a departure from Gasperini's traditional approach, which has always prioritised sustained attacking, pursuing a second or third goal regardless of defensive risk. This season, Roma have absorbed the principle that if a match cannot be won, it must be prevented from being lost—a pragmatic shift essential to competing for the season's highest targets. The club's overall balance across all departments now reflects this maturity: Roma have conceded just three goals so far, sharing the league's best defensive record with Cagliari, while maintaining the second-most prolific attack with 14 goals, trailing only Inter. Como's dominance of possession in the final stages—reaching 83.8%—was neutralised by Roma's midfield and defensive foundation. Gianluca Mancini handled 51 passes, Marten de Roon 55, Wesley 65 and Nahuel Molina 63. The defensive line, led by Evan N'Dicka and rotating through Mario Hermoso, Leonardo Balerdi and Daniele Ghilardi, proved impenetrable. Paulo Dybala, despite minor errors born of fatigue, managed 47 passes away from Roma's box, functioning as a leader among opponents' attackers and maintaining continuity through all 90 minutes with ten men. This combination of technical quality and competitive intensity forms the foundation Roma will need for the season's major fixtures.

José Mourinho will return to the Stadio Olimpico for the first time since his departure, arriving tomorrow evening as Real Madrid manager to face AS Roma in a Champions League fixture. The Portuguese coach spent nearly three years at the club before his dismissal in January 2024, and the reunion carries weight beyond a routine away match. Roma and Mourinho's bond survived his exit and has only deepened in the interval; the Curva Sud and the wider fanbase have maintained their connection to him despite time and distance. A mural by street artist Drugi, created in recent days, encapsulated the sentiment with the words: "For one night we will forget love, but we will never forget who we have been." Mourinho's tenure began with his announcement on 4 May 2021, followed by his arrival at Trigoria weeks later. The relationship took root instantly, before he had even won a match in giallorosso colours. European nights, battles, provocations and tears followed. The UEFA Europa Conference League triumph in Tirana brought a European trophy back to Roma's cabinet and transformed a strong bond into something deeper still. A year later came Budapest, ending in an opposite outcome but delivering emotional intensity that proved even more potent; Mourinho became the embodiment of the entire environment's anger, crossing lines and bearing personal consequences for that night. The relationship with the club began to erode slowly until his January 2024 dismissal. His connection with the city and much of the support never truly fractured. Mourinho has continued to speak of Roma in terms he has rarely used for other chapters of his career. The Olimpico's reception tomorrow night will be one of the most anticipated moments of the evening. When the match begins, Mourinho has already stated he will think only of Real Madrid, and Roma will do the same—they face not a monument to celebrate but one of the season's most significant opponents. Before the whistle, though, a moment to acknowledge each other will be inevitable. Love, nostalgia, gratitude and tears may follow. Then the referee will blow, and something peculiar will unfold: for ninety minutes, José will truly be one of theirs.