Rossomando questions Gasperini's tactics against Inter; Valdarchi backs Como for title race

Francesco Graziani, the former Roma striker, has expressed confidence in the club's season after a strong start, singling out Donyell Malen for particular praise in an interview with Il Tempo. Graziani, who spent three seasons in the capital and remains closely connected to the Giallorossi, told the outlet that Malen represents a level of attacking talent the club has not seen in some time. "At Roma an attacker like this hasn't been seen for a long time. He is strong physically and technically skilled," Graziani said. "I don't understand why in his national team they don't play him in the position most suited to him—exactly the position that manager Gasperini gives him. It's madness not to make the most of his undoubted qualities." Graziani highlighted the strength of Roma's squad depth as a foundation for optimism. "The squad is strong and compared to the past has an important bench, almost of the same value as the starters. This allows the manager to manage his forces and the many commitments better," he explained. He also credited Gasperini's appointment and the role of his assistant D'Amico as decisive for the club's direction. "After a long and rewarding experience at Atalanta, he chose Roma and arrived with a strong desire to prove himself. Last season he was good at building; this summer he worked very well to reinforce the squad and the results are showing. I believe D'Amico's arrival was decisive. The two know each other perfectly and have already shown they are a pair capable of building quality teams," Graziani said. Graziari stressed that Gasperini is interpreting his role in an English manner—as a manager with control over both coaching and the transfer market, not simply as a coach. "The president, his son and the collaborators decided to entrust themselves completely to Gasperini, giving him not only technical guidance but also the market. Gian Piero is interpreting his role in the English way; he is more a manager than a coach. I am truly very confident." Graziani remained measured on European prospects, acknowledging that the Champions League is "a super competition, fascinating and very difficult," while noting that Roma possess the qualities to perform well. On the upcoming clash with Inter at the Olimpico, he predicted that "a great many things can happen" but that the result would arrive too early in the season to be decisive.

Radio commentators analysed Roma's recent performance and prospects ahead of their Serie A clash with Inter. Carina told Radio Radio: "It seems to me that Roma have something more even compared to their rivals, even Inter, who seem to have some problems related to injuries, especially in defence. Roma instead seem well set, together with Como. Inter's strikers are not matched by anyone in Italy: Lautaro didn't play yesterday and nobody noticed, but they have problems that Roma and Como don't have." Furio Zara described the Inter match as "the first real maturity test" for Roma, while Stefano Agresti called it "a title clash; but obviously it doesn't decide who will win the championship. Both are the most favoured teams to win Serie A." Roberto Pruzzo praised Roma's display, saying: "I liked Roma: in the first half hour they found solutions, they exploited their opponents' errors. Malen is too decisive and too dangerous, Dybala showed he's in good condition. It seemed like good Roma for the needs of the match." Orsi noted that yesterday's match was one Roma deserved to win, adding that the direct clash against Inter "can give the championship answers about the work done so far." Sabatini highlighted defensive strengths and a surprise performer: "It was a great match, because as long as Roma went ahead they were always attacking: Torino was, as they say, put to bed. A match of good management, with individuals like Malen and with some surprise like Balerdi: I didn't think he was so strong." He identified Inter's weakness: "The problem with Inter is in defence, from the errors of Madrid. The keeper can react, but if the three defenders have anxiety then they put the department in difficulty. Between Inter and Roma there's the difference of defence." Pes on Teleradiosstereo noted Roma's defensive solidity: "Roma have conceded only one goal in four matches," and praised Balerdi's impact: "Balerdi has a way of playing that impresses: confidence, speed." He also noted surprise at De Roon's quick adaptation and said Roma "present themselves differently compared to last year's clash."

Walter Sabatini, the former sporting director who built Roma into title contenders, has returned to football as a consultant at Pro Patria, the Serie D club where he ended his playing career 43 years ago. Speaking to Corriere della Sera, Sabatini reflected on his life in the game and offered observations on current Italian football, including pointed comments about his former club and its rivals. Sabatini left Roma's hierarchy years ago and has now chosen to restart in a modest setting, describing it as "a sort of catharsis" and "entering the starting box once more". He acknowledged struggling in an environment that does not accommodate his ideas: "I need agility and speed. I don't hide that I'm finding myself uncomfortable and I don't want to waste my final years. I'm entering perhaps the third or fourth age of my life." Yet he retains the fighting spirit of his early career, when he began working for Triestina at 39. He still relies on instinct over data analysis: "When I see a player I must feel something immediately at first meeting. He must strike me like lightning. The only yardstick of evaluation I conceive is the eye, sensitivity, passion." On Roma specifically, Sabatini was emphatic: "Roma. It's my life, don't make me say anything else because I've developed a complex about being a boring man." He praised Paulo Dybala as "a residual champion of our championship", the only player of the calibre that graced Serie A in the 1990s—when Ronaldo, Platini and Rummenigge competed in Italy. Of Gian Piero Gasperini, Roma's current head coach, Sabatini said: "I have great admiration for his work as a technician but I would have entered into a collision course." He also expressed regret over his spell at Inter, calling himself "a meteor" that earthlings barely noticed pass. On the current league standings, Sabatini noted "great euphoria" within Roma's environment and "spiritual cohesion that makes everyone feel unbeatable", but judged Inter superior: "For the quality of the squad and depth of choices, Inter are a step above everyone." Sabatini watches every match in Serie A and finds inspiration in each one. He remains characteristically combative about his career and health, describing himself as "bulimic for life" and comparing his condition to Kafka's protagonist: "Guilty but no one knows of what crime."