Svilar: Roma must compete in Champions League every year

Roma head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has received a new injury setback, with Devyne Rensch suffering a muscle injury and expected to return after the international break. The club's pause for the national team fixtures comes at a useful time to recover several players and prepare for upcoming commitments. The defeat at Manchester has left Gasperini with clear lessons, particularly the need to widen the options available in the squad. Until the derby in mid-December, the fixture list contains no other big league match. Gasperini will not speak at a press conference on the eve of the match against Sassuolo. From the English trip, a message came from Matías Soulé, who urged the team to learn from the defeats and keep working with the same commitment. The Argentine is now one of the main attacking reference points alongside Malen, but it is precisely this dependence that worries the coach. Even without Svilar, the team has shown fragility: goals conceded have increased and the save percentage has dropped noticeably.

Gian Piero Gasperini will not speak to the media on the eve of Roma's home match against Sassuolo, the same pattern that has often followed Champions League games. The fixture at the Stadio Olimpico comes just before the international break. The Roma coach has regularly skipped the pre-match press conference after Champions League matches. Sassuolo's coach, Aquilani, will speak as normal on Friday ahead of the Saturday fixture. The match is scheduled for Saturday 7 November at 20:45 at the Stadio Olimpico.

Gian Piero Gasperini will not attend the traditional pre-match press conference ahead of Roma's Serie A clash with Sassuolo, the club's 11th-round fixture. The match is scheduled for Saturday 7 November at 20:45 at the Stadio Olimpico. The game is the last fixture before the international break and closes a demanding run in which Roma have played every three days across the league and cup competitions. Gasperini has chosen to focus his efforts on preparing the match and managing the squad at Trigoria, following a period that has been particularly intense physically and mentally. Roma's head coach, Gian Piero Gasperini, has decided against the usual press conference on the eve of the match.

Roma are reportedly back in contact over Real Madrid forward Endrick and Chelsea winger Jamie Gittens as possible January reinforcements, while Paulo Dybala and Manu Koné are still absent from training ahead of Saturday's match against Sassuolo. According to Matteo Moretto, D'Amico continues to talk with the entourage of Endrick, who has been little used by Mourinho. Roma would be ready to take him on loan in January, but the Portuguese coach does not want to let him go. Milan and foreign clubs are also interested in the player. For Gittens, the Gazzetta dello Sport reports that Roma are targeting a quick attacking winger capable of beating his man, and that the Chelsea player is one of the main objectives. D'Amico is also tracking Leweling of Stuttgart and Kvernadze of Frosinone. The idea is to take advantage of a loan opportunity, without ruling out a move for a midfielder. Dybala and Koné did not appear in the images of Friday's training at Trigoria, and their recovery for Saturday remains difficult. Gasperini is considering starting Mora alongside Soulé, with Malen as the centre-forward. Ndicka is expected to return in defence, while Molina is the favourite on the right after Rensch's injury. Rensch is set to be out for about three weeks with a right adductor injury picked up at Manchester. Gollini is recovering from a back problem and could be available against Sassuolo; if not, Vásquez will continue in goal. Svilar has no chance of returning before the international break. Fabio Capello analysed the collapse at Old Trafford, where Roma dominated the first half before becoming unrecognisable. He pointed to a drop in concentration, fatigue and United's intensity as the main causes. His verdict on the squad is that it is competitive in Italy but still needs completing to face Europe's biggest sides. Elsewhere, Marten de Roon spoke about his arrival in the capital after Gasperini's call. Given his rivalry with Roma during his Atalanta days, he had expected a difficult dressing room, but his first impressions proved those fears wrong. On the sales side, Eintracht Frankfurt are following Sangaré, the young Spanish full-back who has been sold permanently to Elche for €4.5m. Moretto reports that the German club have begun initial contacts with his entourage. Roma retain 20% of any future sell-on fee and could therefore profit from a further transfer. No official offer has been made so far.

Roma head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has received a new injury setback, with Devyne Rensch suffering a muscle injury and expected to return after the international break. The club's pause for the national team fixtures comes at a useful time to recover several players and prepare for upcoming commitments. The defeat at Manchester has left Gasperini with clear lessons, particularly the need to widen the options available in the squad. Until the derby in mid-December, the fixture list contains no other big league match. Gasperini will not speak at a press conference on the eve of the match against Sassuolo. From the English trip, a message came from Matías Soulé, who urged the team to learn from the defeats and keep working with the same commitment. The Argentine is now one of the main attacking reference points alongside Malen, but it is precisely this dependence that worries the coach. Even without Svilar, the team has shown fragility: goals conceded have increased and the save percentage has dropped noticeably.

Roma return to Serie A on Saturday evening, hosting Sassuolo at the Stadio Olimpico in the eleventh round, the last fixture before the international break. Kickoff is at 20:45 on Saturday 7 November. Sassuolo are coached by former Roma midfielder Alberto Aquilani, and Gasperini's side will look to bounce back from the disappointment of a late comeback against Manchester United in the Champions League. Roma lost 3-2 at Old Trafford, having led 2-0 at half-time through goals from Soulé and Malen before Manchester United completed the turnaround in the second half. In Serie A the mood is far brighter. Roma beat Udinese 5-2 in their last outing and sit third after ten rounds with 24 points, from seven wins and three draws. They have scored 28 and conceded 10, and remain unbeaten in the league this season. Sassuolo, by contrast, are seventeenth with 8 points from ten matches. They arrive on a run of four consecutive defeats and have the worst defence in Serie A. Their last game ended in a 4-2 defeat at the Mapei Stadium to Fiorentina, and they have also lost to Lazio, Como and Frosinone in recent weeks. Gasperini faces an early selection problem in goal. Pierluigi Gollini missed the Manchester United game with a back problem that came up during training, and his condition will be monitored up to the match. If he is ruled out, Devis Vásquez, who started at Old Trafford, will again be in goal. Mancini, N'Dicka and Hermoso are expected back in defence, although Ghilardi remains a concrete option after good performances in recent weeks. Molina and Wesley are favoured on the flanks. Devyne Rensch will not be available, having suffered a right adductor injury against Manchester United. Cristante is expected to keep his place in midfield, while the partner alongside him is still open, with Pisilli possibly giving de Roon a rest. Up front, Soulé and Malen look certain to start, with Mora expected to play behind or alongside the Argentine. Koné and Dybala are doubtful, with both hoping to be available at least on the bench. Svilar will certainly miss the game, as he completes his recovery from a stress fracture to his fifth toe and is expected back after the break. Pellegrini is also out, still recovering from the muscle problem he suffered against Slovan Bratislava. Sassuolo are expected to line up in a 4-3-3. Turati is the favourite in goal, protected by a back line of Walukiewicz, Idzes, Candé and Doig. Thorstvedt returns in midfield after serving his suspension against Fiorentina, and is expected to be joined by Matic and one of Bakola or Adzic. Up front, Aquilani will rely on his most creative players: Berardi on the right, Laurienté on the opposite flank and Sebastiano Esposito as the central reference point. Leysen, who has a serious knee injury, and Ismaël Koné, who is recovering from a leg fracture, are out for Sassuolo, along with Boloca and Volpato. Roma's head-to-head record at the Olimpico against Sassuolo is strong. Of 12 Serie A meetings played in Rome, Roma have won six, five have ended level and Sassuolo have won just once, a 4-3 victory in March 2023. The most recent meeting was on 10 January 2026, when Roma won 2-0. Overall, including matches in Emilia, the record reads 13 wins for Roma, 9 draws and just 2 wins for Sassuolo. The match will be broadcast live on DAZN and Sky Sport Calcio, and streamed via Sky Go and NOW. Official line-ups will be announced about an hour before kickoff at 20:45 on Saturday 7 November.