Tempestilli on Gasperini: 'He reminds me of Capello. I miss Roma'

Roberto Mancini is settling into his return as Italy manager with the Azzurri in second place after four Nations League matches, despite an early defeat to Belgium. He has maintained his trademark approach of rapidly integrating young talent into the senior setup, with 64 youth debutants in 65 matches spent in the national team dugout. During the most recent international window, he introduced Alessandro Romano, Issa Doumbia, Michael Kayode, Sebastiano Esposito, Matteo Ruggeri, Antonio Vergara, and Mohamed Alì Zoma, who all performed credibly. Niccolò Pisilli, a Roma squad member, is among the next group of youngsters in line for a call-up, alongside Alphadjo Cissè, Cher Ndour, and Antonio Raimondo. A couple of them already featured for Italy in June when Silvio Baldini was caretaker manager. Three additional newcomers—Honest Ahanor, Eddy Kouadio, and Samuel Inacio—made their first squad call-ups but will have to wait until November to earn their maiden caps; Mancini held back the latter two partly to avoid triggering national team calls from Côte d'Ivoire and Brazil, though he notes Italy's U-21 side also needed them for European Championship qualification. Mancini observed that the players showed greater unity, tactical cohesion, spirit, and commitment than in the final stretch of his previous reign and the subsequent periods under different coaches. Most of the young talent are expected to remain at the forefront, with their quality and energy already evident.

Roberto Policano, a former Roma player, analysed the team's condition ahead of their Serie A match against Como, discussing both opponents' strengths and Roma's advantages in the championship battle. Policano praised Como's transformation into a relevant force, noting: "They have become a significant reality: some say they have money, it's true but they spend it very well. They have interesting young players who are growing well, and much of the credit goes to the coach who manages to give them awareness. His football works well, they always go to win the ball back. They attack and defend well." He acknowledged Como's Spanish recruitment strategy as an impressive target for many clubs. However, he backed Roma to have an edge over Como in the league title race, citing Como's youth and their potential inability to maintain their intensity and handle the pressure throughout the season. Policano also noted that Como's Champions League campaign will consume considerable energy, and he identified Inter, Milan, Juventus and Napoli as the teams to watch in the title fight. On where Roma can win the match, Policano stated: "In individual duels, it will be important not to make mistakes on exits and not to be caught exposed. If Roma plays as they know how and as the coach demands, they can get a result." He also discussed his work at Udinese, mentioning that Solet and Ekkelenkamp are ready for a big move and that the club fears losing them next season.

Alberto Aquilani, a former Roma midfielder, has expressed confidence in the club's championship prospects ahead of the resumption of Serie A. Speaking to Il Messaggero, Aquilani praised both the squad and head coach Gian Piero Gasperini, saying Roma have the strength and depth to compete for the title. "Very strong and complete squad," Aquilani said of Roma. "It got off to the right start, it can fight for the top." On Gasperini's impact at the club, Aquilani was emphatic in his assessment: "For what he has done and communicated, he is a master—he is one in what he does. He revolutionised the way we play with all-round pressing, with his way of understanding the match and I think also training. He is an innovator." Aquilani's endorsement reflects the optimism surrounding Roma's campaign this season, with particular emphasis on Gasperini's tactical innovations and influence over the squad's approach to matches.

Roma return to action on Sunday 11 October at 12:30 at the Sinigaglia for Serie A's sixth round against Como, following the international break. Wesley and Malen trained partially with the group on 7 October, while Bryan Cristante remains sidelined and will miss the match. Rodrigo Mora and Manu Koné have returned to Rome after completing their international commitments; Matías Soulé, Santiago Castro and Leonardo Balerdi are expected back tomorrow after finishing their respective obligations. Lorenzo Pellegrini is in contention for a starting role in the offensive line, having remained at Trigoria throughout the break and trained consistently under coach Gian Piero Gasperini. He is reportedly ahead of Soulé and Mora in the selection battle, a positioning helped by his uninterrupted preparation while his rivals were engaged with their national teams. Soulé will arrive in the capital only close to kickoff following Argentina's campaign, while Mora returned today after Portugal's Under-21 commitments. Michael Fabbri of Ravenna has been appointed to referee the match, with Imperiale and Baccini as assistants and Sozza as fourth official. Gariglio will manage the VAR with Abisso as AVAR. Fabbri has refereed Roma on 19 occasions: the club holds a record of 9 victories, 4 draws and 6 defeats under him. His last match involving Roma was in the 2025-26 season, when he officiated Roma's 1–0 defeat to Atalanta in Bergamo in round 18. Radio commentary before the match has focused on the title race. Stefano Carina remarked: "We need to understand what effect the Champions League has, it costs many points. But it is too early for any judgment, Como and Roma are already going at maximum, difficult they can do more." Paolo Marcacci added: "I have positive feelings about the match with Como. After this break another championship begins: between 13 and 10 points there are eight teams, so this round can become important for the table. If I had to pick a result, I would say Roma will win or at least not lose. But it is too early to say that whoever wins will become the anti-Inter."

Roma face Como on Sunday at 12:30 in Serie A matchday 6, with head coach Gasperini having to choose between three players for a single starting spot. Matías Soulé, Rodrigo Mora and Lorenzo Pellegrini are competing for the role, forcing the manager to make a key decision ahead of the fixture. Pellegrini has not played since 10 April 2026, when Roma beat Pisa 3-0. His last goal came a week earlier in Roma's 5-2 defeat at Inter. Soulé, the Argentine winger, started the three matches immediately before the international break—against Fenerbahce, Torino and Inter—but his fitness is uncertain following his journey back from Argentina after taking part in Lionel Messi's final appearance for the national team. Mora, meanwhile, has made limited impact recently, managing only 49 minutes across the last three games after impressing in his earlier displays against Fiorentina and Lecce, where he scored his first Roma goal. The poll posed to supporters asks the key question: should Pellegrini start the match at the Sinigaglia?

Jordan Veretout, who left Roma in 2022 after three seasons, has expressed his enduring affection for the club and suggested he would be open to a return if the opportunity arose. Speaking on Retesport, the midfielder reflected on his time in giallorosso from 2019 to 2022, when he made 131 appearances, scored 22 goals and provided 16 assists. "Roma has remained in my heart," Veretout said. "When Roma calls me, I'm there." Veretout departed Rome to join Marseille, describing the move as the right moment after three years at the club. He emphasised the difficulty of leaving, particularly after winning the UEFA Europa Conference League with Roma in 2022. "We won the Conference, it was difficult to leave," he recalled. "For me it was the right moment to return to France—there was an offer from Marseille, a great team in France just as Roma is in Italy, and after three years it was the right time to leave." The midfielder praised current head coach Gian Piero Gasperini's style of play, describing it as "vertical, strong football with constant pressure." He suggested the system would have suited his characteristics. "I would have enjoyed playing under him, and when I was at Roma, Atalanta wanted me, so I believe manager Gasperini wanted me with him," Veretout said. He expressed hope that Roma can win the Serie A title this season and spoke fondly of fellow midfielder Manu Koné, a French compatriot. "I watch him with affection, I'm happy that he is doing well in giallorosso and I wish him success at Roma because it's special." Veretout recalled his finest moment in Roma colours as a penalty against Napoli, struck "under the Sud" with help from teammates Dzeko and Kolarov. He named Radja Nainggolan as his Serie A midfield idol. On his final months at Roma under José Mourinho, Veretout acknowledged a "good relationship" with the Portuguese manager but cited complications over contract renewal and a subsequent Marseille offer. "I had a good relationship with him. I don't know if it was him or the club first that caused me to play less—we talked about a renewal but we didn't reach an agreement, then the Marseille offer came. He was always very close to the players, he is and remains number one," Veretout reflected. Now based in Doha, Veretout stated he is doing well but acknowledged that football remains challenging. He emphasised family as his priority and joked that his wife wants to return to Rome's capital. "I'm not finished, I can still help if Roma wants me, I'm there," he said. Veretout spoke passionately about Roma's 2022 Conference League victory in Tirana, describing the subsequent celebrations at Rome's centre as unforgettable. "When we celebrated in the centre of Rome with thousands of supporters, even today I get chills—I show my son the images," he said. He maintained contact with former teammates including Gianluca Mancini, Lorenzo Pellegrini and Bryan Cristante, and paid tribute to Roma's supporters as "top in Europe for passion and warmth."