Svilar backs Roma to stay in Champions League; Gasperini 'fired up' in pre-season

Mile Svilar has opened up about his early training under his father Ratko, who worked with him on distribution and dealing with one-on-one situations from a young age. Speaking to Radio Romanista, the Roma goalkeeper explained how he developed his characteristic style of rushing out to close space, a trait instilled during childhood coaching sessions. Svilar credited his father's demanding approach for shaping his mentality. "When I took a ball in the face and wanted to cry, he said no," Svilar said. "With him it wasn't possible to cry. So I learned that way and thank goodness it was tough." The goalkeeper emphasised that fear was never a factor: "Maybe at the start, yes and no. But I have a father who did the same job, so he wouldn't allow it." This formative period under his father's tutelage instilled both technical skill and mental resilience that continue to define Svilar's approach in goal.

Neil El Aynaoui has dismissed interest from Real Madrid and Barcelona to focus entirely on Roma ahead of the 2026–27 season. The Moroccan winger, who caught attention at the World Cup, said in an interview on Radio Radio that his first year in Serie A has been formative. "It was the first time I had left France and faced a new league," he explained. "This experience has helped me grow, and today I feel I have much more experience." El Aynaoui praised head coach Gian Piero Gasperini's demanding approach to training and tactical clarity. "He is a very demanding coach and knows exactly what he wants. We work hard and I believe that, thanks to him, we are making great progress," he said. His debut for Roma came against Bologna, an occasion that left a deep impression. "The first match against Bologna was special. It was the first time I really saw the stadium full — the atmosphere impressed me," he recalled. With the Olimpico now his stage, El Aynaoui is eager to begin his Champions League campaign, having arrived at Roma when qualification was the stated objective. "When I arrived, everyone told me the goal was to qualify for the Champions League. Today I am very happy to be able to play in it. It is a dream for every footballer and I cannot wait to start," he said.

Mile Svilar has reflected on Roma's qualification for the Champions League last season and his own development as the club's first-choice goalkeeper. Speaking at the club's pre-season training camp in Cardiff, Svilar credited a collective squad effort for securing European football, noting that different players contributed at different moments throughout the campaign. "There was a shared contribution from the start of the season to the end," he said. "When one player wasn't performing at their best, another stepped up, and vice versa. The whole squad's contribution was phenomenal." Developing since his record-breaking Champions League appearance at age 18 years and 65 days in 2017, when he saved a penalty from Anthony Martial, Svilar described himself as a more mature goalkeeper today. He expressed Roma's ambitions in Europe this season, stating: "We must aim to progress from the group, obviously finishing in the top eight, then we want to play the play-offs. But first we have two or three league matches where we need to start well, start strong immediately." He identified his areas for improvement, particularly build-up play from the back, and acknowledged that goalkeepers develop greater completeness over time. Svilar also expressed interest in playing at grounds he has never visited, including the Bernabéu and Parc des Princes, though he suggested facing José Mourinho's Real Madrid at the Bernabéu would hold special appeal for the experience.

Mile Svilar has opened up about his early training under his father Ratko, who worked with him on distribution and dealing with one-on-one situations from a young age. Speaking to Radio Romanista, the Roma goalkeeper explained how he developed his characteristic style of rushing out to close space, a trait instilled during childhood coaching sessions. Svilar credited his father's demanding approach for shaping his mentality. "When I took a ball in the face and wanted to cry, he said no," Svilar said. "With him it wasn't possible to cry. So I learned that way and thank goodness it was tough." The goalkeeper emphasised that fear was never a factor: "Maybe at the start, yes and no. But I have a father who did the same job, so he wouldn't allow it." This formative period under his father's tutelage instilled both technical skill and mental resilience that continue to define Svilar's approach in goal.

Mile Svilar has reflected on Roma's qualification for the Champions League last season and his own development as the club's first-choice goalkeeper. Speaking at the club's pre-season training camp in Cardiff, Svilar credited a collective squad effort for securing European football, noting that different players contributed at different moments throughout the campaign. "There was a shared contribution from the start of the season to the end," he said. "When one player wasn't performing at their best, another stepped up, and vice versa. The whole squad's contribution was phenomenal." Developing since his record-breaking Champions League appearance at age 18 years and 65 days in 2017, when he saved a penalty from Anthony Martial, Svilar described himself as a more mature goalkeeper today. He expressed Roma's ambitions in Europe this season, stating: "We must aim to progress from the group, obviously finishing in the top eight, then we want to play the play-offs. But first we have two or three league matches where we need to start well, start strong immediately." He identified his areas for improvement, particularly build-up play from the back, and acknowledged that goalkeepers develop greater completeness over time. Svilar also expressed interest in playing at grounds he has never visited, including the Bernabéu and Parc des Princes, though he suggested facing José Mourinho's Real Madrid at the Bernabéu would hold special appeal for the experience.

Mile Svilar has reaffirmed his commitment to AS Roma whilst acknowledging the unpredictability of professional football. In an exclusive interview with Radio Romanista, the goalkeeper discussed his long-term plans at the club, emphasising that his family is settled and content in Rome. Svilar stopped short of guaranteeing his future beyond the immediate term, recognising that circumstances can change in football. "In the life and career of a professional, you are not always the only one making decisions, but I am happy here, my family is happy here. So for now I want to stay here and that's it," he said. The 27-year-old acknowledged the broader forces at play in football: "What will happen in two, three, or five years? I don't know, you don't know, the president doesn't know, the coach doesn't know. Football is made up of dynamics that go beyond the player." Despite this philosophical perspective on the game's uncertainties, Svilar made clear his immediate desire to remain at the Giallorossi. "But if you ask me: yes, I want to stay here," he concluded. Svilar joined Roma in July 2022 from Benfica and has established himself as a key figure in Gian Piero Gasperini's squad.