Ticket sales open for Roma vs Slovan Bratislava

Roma sporting director Tony D'Amico, speaking to reporters at the Stadio Olimpico before the Serie A clash with Sassuolo, the club's eleventh league matchday, said the squad lacks a fast, direct wide player and that the club will try to address it in January. Asked whether an extra wide attacker would help solve the problem of coming back from behind, D'Amico said: "This is the problem we understood at the end of the transfer window. We are missing a winger with pace, for counterattacks. We will try to do it in January, evaluating the opportunities. We will try to give these characteristics to the coach." On Manu Koné, D'Amico said Roma are in contact with all national teams, and confirmed the Frenchman was back available after a good week. "Today Manu is back, he has had a good week. The coach has decided to play him and we are happy. It is his ninth match in 28 days, and with him in the side we can let others who have spent a lot in these games recover." D'Amico was also asked whether Roma lacked experience in Manchester. He said: "Environments like Manchester's you know. The stadium pushed hard, but I think it was there, and against Real, that they showed us a great Roma that imposes its own game. Against these teams there are moments of difficulty. The penalty I think was more than generous. It was a difficult moment, but that does not mean a penalty like that should be conceded. These experiences are still important for a Roma that, after 7 years, is back in the Champions League. It helps all of us, including the club."

Tony D'Amico has said Roma need a winger with pace and counter-attacking quality, and the club will try to sign one in January. Speaking to SkySport before the match against Sassuolo, he said the need became clear at the end of the transfer window. "This is the problem we realised at the end of the transfer window. We lack a winger with pace, for counter-attacks. We will try to get one in January, weighing up the opportunities. We will try to give these qualities to the coach." Asked whether an extra attacking winger would help solve Roma's problem of coming back from behind, D'Amico agreed it was a key issue. He also addressed the club's dealings with national teams over Manu Koné, saying Roma talk to all national teams. Koné returns today after a good week of training, and the coach has decided to play him, which D'Amico said pleased the club. This is the ninth match in 28 days, and with Koné in the side, the club can rest others who have played a lot in these games. On the atmosphere in Manchester, D'Amico said: "You know environments like Manchester's. The stadium pushed hard, but I think it was there, and against Real, that they showed us a great Roma imposing its game. Against these teams there are moments of difficulty. The penalty, I think, was more than generous. It was a difficult moment, but that does not mean a penalty like that should be given. These experiences are still important for a Roma that, after seven years, is back in the Champions League. It serves all of us, including the club."

AS Roma have responded after Retesport broadcast the complaint of a Roma supporter, Emanuele, who said he was mistreated by local authorities and stewards in Manchester during pre-match security checks. Retesport says it gave a voice to the testimony after numerous messages from other Roma fans, received on air and privately, who reported similar alleged abuses outside the stadium. Retesport says it contacted AS Roma before publishing the claims. According to the broadcaster, the club's staff responsible for supporter relations and away-travel logistics worked throughout the evening, both before and during the match, to resolve the problems raised by Emanuele and other supporters in similar situations. The club also followed, up until the morning of 6 November, the case of a Roma fan who was arrested and later released. Retesport presents this as evidence of the club's constant commitment to resolving, where possible, any problem facing supporters travelling with the team. On fans who held tickets for sectors other than the away end and were escorted out of the stadium during the first half, Retesport says it was not possible for them to buy a seat in the stands, as this would have breached the stadium's regulations on use of the venue. Retesport said it acknowledged the club's full availability and willingness to cooperate, which it said the club showed again in this case. However, the broadcaster argues that, more generally, when episodes of this kind occur, the club should be able to take a public position in support of its supporters, because some accounts point to treatment that amounts at the very least to absolute incivility. It also warned that security measures appear excessively restrictive where they risk crossing the line from legitimate public order protection into repression, even if only indirect, against supporters.