Totti on Dybala and the number 10: continuity must be earned

Lazio supporter Giuseppe Cruciani has named Roma as the clear favourites for the Scudetto, saying the club can only lose the title itself. Speaking on the Numer1 podcast, the La Zanzara presenter pointed to Gian Piero Gasperini's side as the team to beat. "Not out of superstition, but based on what we've seen so far. Roma have never dropped a match, maybe once a long time ago. The only game they lost was when they were ahead five minutes from the end against Real Madrid. Apart from that, they have always dominated," Cruciani said, impressed by the consistency of the giallorossi. Cruciani also highlighted that Roma have kept going despite the absences of three key players: Svilar, Koné and Dybala. He said those losses had not stopped the team from continuing to get results and produce high-level performances, which made their campaign all the more significant. His prediction was emphatic: "Roma are the real favourites for the Scudetto. If they don't win it, it's because something strange happens. It's almost impossible that they don't win it." Cruciani gave Roma a 55% chance of winning the title, ahead of Inter on 40% and Milan on 5%. His view stands apart from his fellow panellists. Ivan Zazzaroni still considers Inter the favourites, while Sandro Sabatini sees the two clubs as essentially level. Cruciani, by contrast, has no doubts. For Roma fans, hearing such words from a Lazio supporter makes the prediction all the more striking.

Giuseppe Cruciani, the Lazio-supporting journalist and host of La Zanzara on Radio24, has declared that Roma are the real favourites for the Scudetto and that only Roma could throw the title away. Speaking on the Numer1 podcast, he said the claim was not superstition but based on the team's performances so far. Cruciani said: "Non lo dico per scaramanzia, ma per valutazione di quello visto finora. Non ha mai sbagliato una partita, forse un tempo. L'unica partita che ha perso era in vantaggio a 5' dalla fine contro il Real Madrid. Per il resto ha dominato sempre. Gli mancano 3 giocatori fondamentali come Svilar, Koné e Dybala. La Roma è la vera favorita allo scudetto, se non lo vince è perché succede qualcosa di strano. È quasi impossibile che non lo vinca." In English, his remarks read: "I'm not saying it out of superstition, but based on what we've seen so far. They have never lost a match, maybe apart from one half. The only game they lost was when they were ahead with 5 minutes left against Real Madrid. Otherwise they have always dominated. They are missing three key players, such as Svilar, Koné and Dybala. Roma are the real favourites for the Scudetto; if they don't win it, something strange would have to happen. It is almost impossible that they don't win it." His comments come with Roma sweating on the fitness of three key men. Cruciani named goalkeeper Mile Svilar, midfielder Manu Koné and forward Paulo Dybala as fundamental absences, and he framed the Real Madrid defeat, where Roma led with five minutes to play, as the only blemish on an otherwise dominant campaign.

Former Roma left-back Max Tonetto, speaking exclusively to Retesport, said Gian Piero Gasperini's Roma share a strong identity with the side Luciano Spalletti built, with both projects built on a clear idea and a club that backs its coach. Tonetto said the results are now visible: Roma reached the Champions League in a season that brought many defeats, and the team has grown with signings made in the market. He noted that the first Spalletti team had far more difficulties. Looking ahead to Manchester United, Tonetto said the environment at Old Trafford is important, as the stadium regularly hosts Champions League football. He said Roma must impact the match in the right way, and that the first 15 minutes will be key. He added that Roma are aware of their qualities but must not give the opponent courage, because things can turn around quickly. On Gasperini, Tonetto said the coach's great philosophy is to accept no compromises: regardless of the opponent or the league position, the team always plays the same way. He said the road Gasp has taken is the right one, and that this way of playing pays off. Tonetto contrasted the two coaches: unlike Gasperini, Spalletti sought adjustments when an opponent had particular traits, while this Roma does not do that. He cited the match against Cagliari, when Mancini struggled against Fadera but the coach made no changes and kept playing the same way. The only change came in the final minutes, with Ghilardi, and Tonetto said the coach admitted he should have made it earlier. He added that all the players think in the same way. On Lulli, Tonetto called him a great discovery. He said Gasperini has worked with him since last season and that he is the ideal winger for the coach's game. He described him as the perfect stereotype: he has sprint, closes down every cross, and has an incredible engine and legs. Tonetto said he was surprised by the maturity and personality the player has shown, adding that it is not normal at his age. He said it could be a gradual path Gasperini is studying for him, or a chance from rotation, but that it will happen soon, and that the player is showing on the pitch that he is reliable, a fundamental quality for a coach. He said he did not believe there were many coaches better than Gasp at developing young players like him. Tonetto said the leap forward has been remarkable and that the fact he could be a starter is important. Tonetto also addressed the team's gaps and Niccolò Pisilli. He said the side lacks a midfielder, and that Pisilli is not, in his view, a defensive midfielder: he can do it, but lacks those characteristics, and paradoxically one would lose something in his forward movement. He called Pisilli good in many roles, adding that he will need a clearly defined identity but is on the right track with Gasp. Tonetto said he sees Pisilli as a box-to-box midfielder, closer to the trequartista zone than the holding line, and said he has already shown a lot. He said it is always pleasing to add a player from the academy, and that it is a source of pride to see him wear the captain's armband. On sending players out on loan, Tonetto said it makes sense to have this internal option, since not everyone becomes a first-rate player immediately and some need a few years, which is why the Under 23 side is useful. Asked whether Roma are a title side, Tonetto said the goal is to settle in the top part of the table. He said the same mentality must be kept, and that the final half hour of a season can make the difference in winning the Scudetto. He concluded that always being close to the top is the right path.

Roma threw away a two-goal lead at Manchester United in the Champions League, losing 3-2 after a dominant first half in which Soulé and Malen (from the penalty spot) had put them ahead. The collapse follows a similar late unravelling against Real Madrid, and this time the defeat is even more painful. Roma controlled the first half, rattling a United side that looked unrecognisable, before disappearing from the pitch after the break with no reaction and no ability to ease the English pressure. The responsibility, the article argues, must be shared, and head coach Gasperini must accept his part. Taking off Rodrigo Mora at half-time, after the Portuguese had lit up Roma's attacking play, was hard to understand. Pisilli's introduction was meant to bring more substance and dynamism but removed quality and unpredictability, and from that point Roma barely threatened. Replacing the injured Rensch with Lulli, rather than the more experienced Molina, also raised doubts; the young winger suffered badly under the weight of the match and United's pressure. Both choices failed and Gasperini will have to reflect on them. The squad is also showing strain. The absences of Manu Koné and Paulo Dybala were felt, especially when the team needed fresh legs and quality to escape difficult moments. Roma still lack a quick attacking winger who can beat a man and turn a move, something the club sought without success during the summer transfer window. Balerdi, probably the best player on the pitch until then, made a costly error, missing the ball on the cross that allowed Cunha to equalise. A few minutes later it was 3-2. The decisive moment was the penalty awarded to United for a very light contact between Mancini and Cunha, which looked utterly incomprehensible. The retake, after Vásquez had saved the first attempt, was justified because Cristante's foot was already inside the box, but the initial decision that revived a struggling United side remains a source of enormous doubt. Bruno Fernandes's goal reignited United and Old Trafford. The real problem, the article says, was what happened in the minds and legs of the Roma players: as the pace rose and United pressed harder, Roma were gripped by fear of losing a victory already within reach and could not respond. Gasperini acknowledged after the game that this defeat could teach Roma even more than the loss to Real Madrid, and the article agrees, while insisting the problem must be faced rather than hidden behind the refereeing call or the absences. The result leaves Roma's hopes of reaching the Champions League play-off round harder to secure. The club now face Sassuolo on Saturday evening at the Olimpico, a final push before the international break. The article says Roma must recover injured players, energy and composure, and collect three points, while the championship remains the season's main target. Roma have repeatedly shown they can bounce back from disappointment, and the article concludes that the real frustration is seeing how strong this team can be, and how little it still takes for them to stop being so.

Roma led Manchester United 2-0 at half-time in their Champions League league-phase fourth matchday clash at Old Trafford, with Paulo Dybala's teammate Matías Soulé and Donyell Malen on the scoresheet. Soulé opened the scoring in the 11th minute after a fine pass from Mora, and Malen doubled the lead from the penalty spot in the 17th minute after Heaven handled Soulé's shot. Bruno Fernandes pulled one back for United in the 57th minute, after the hosts had been handed a penalty that Vásquez saved before the referee ordered a retake. Roma came into the game with four points from their first three European matches, following a convincing win over Slovan Bratislava, while United, under Michael Carrick, were on three points and in a difficult spell. Gian Piero Gasperini made changes to his starting lineup. Gollini was ruled out at the last minute, so Vásquez started in goal. Balerdi came in for Ndicka at centre-back, and Rensch won the battle for the right-back spot over Molina. Malen and Soulé were confirmed up front with Mora in support. On the United side, Lammens started in goal, with Mbeumo, Bruno Fernandes and Diallo behind Cunha. Roma dominated the first half and had further chances to extend their lead. Soulé came close with a left-foot effort that went narrowly wide, and Cristante released Malen, whose right-foot shot was tipped away by Lammens. Bruno Fernandes also fired over from a good position. Roma's defence was tested after Rensch was forced off in the 22nd minute, with Lulli coming on in his place. Malen was booked in the 41st minute for a foul, and Lulli was booked in the 35th minute for handball. Soulé and Bruno Fernandes were both shown yellow cards in the 20th minute after a flare-up on the pitch. In the second half, Gasperini brought on Pisilli in place of Mora at the restart. Baleba was injured in the 47th minute and was replaced by Tielemans in the 50th minute. United then received a penalty in the 55th minute, when Mancini's arm contacted the ball and Cunha went down under contact. Vásquez saved Bruno Fernandes' spot kick, but the referee ordered it to be retaken, and Fernandes made no mistake the second time, in the 57th minute. Shortly afterwards, Mbeumo struck the woodwork twice. By the 65th minute, the momentum had shifted towards United, with the home crowd lifted and United reinvigorated. The match was refereed by Jesús Gil Manzano from Spain, with Guadalupe Porras Ayuso and Diego Barbero as assistants, Juan Martínez Munuera as fourth official, and Carlos del Cerro Grande on VAR. The match remained in progress at the time of the live coverage, and Roma's position in the league phase will depend on how the second half ends.

Roma travel to Old Trafford on Tuesday for a high-stakes UEFA Champions League clash that could decide Michael Carrick's future at Manchester United, with the home side enduring their worst run of form since the late 1980s. United lost 2-0 at home to Chelsea on Saturday and are level on points with 18th-placed Crystal Palace in the Premier League. They are on a nine-game winless streak in all competitions (D3, L6), their worst run since 1988. Carrick's position is under scrutiny ahead of what is described as a must-win game. United beat Champions League debutants Sabah Baku 4-0, but have since lost back-to-back group-phase matches, suffering multi-goal defeats at Atletico Madrid and Como. Roma arrive in better shape. Gian Piero Gasperini's side recovered from a two-game winless start (D1, L1) to thrash Slovan Bratislava 4-0 on matchday three. That win is part of a five-game unbeaten run in all competitions (W4, D1), capped by a dominant 5-2 win at Udinese last weekend. Roma are unbeaten in 17 Serie A matches (W13, D4), and the Giallorossi will take the Old Trafford pitch in high spirits, seeking their maiden win on United's home ground. United have beaten Roma in all four previous meetings at the Theatre of Dreams, including a 7-1 rout in 2007, when Carrick scored a brace. The under-pressure United boss will be desperate to repeat that success, knowing anything other than a win would likely seal his fate at the club. United have won 13 of their 17 Champions League home matches against Italian opposition at Old Trafford (D1, L3) and bring a seven-game winning streak in European home games into the fixture, with each of their last four wins in that sequence seeing them score at least four goals. However, the 20-time English champions are enduring their worst-ever ten-game Champions League run (W2, D1, L7), and they have failed to score in five of their seven defeats this season. Roma's scoring has been prolific, with Gasperini's side netting two or more goals in six consecutive outings across all competitions. That run started with a 4-3 home loss to Real Madrid in the Champions League, and Roma have since won five straight games without defeat (W4, D1). Their domestic form has not translated to Europe, however. They have secured just two wins from their last 20 Champions League road fixtures (D6, L12) and have gone 32 successive Champions League road trips without a clean sheet. They are also seeking their first-ever away win over English opposition in the Champions League proper (D3, L7). That said, Roma have not lost any of their last six European away games (W3, D3). Patrick Dorgu, Luke Shaw and Benjamin Sesko are definite absentees for United, while Marcus Rashford and Amad Diallo could be on the bench. Bryan Mbeumo is expected to lead the line amid Matheus Cunha's rough patch, with Bruno Fernandes, Mason Mount and Youri Tielemans behind him in Carrick's 4-2-3-1 set-up. Roma remain without Paulo Dybala, Manu Kone and first-choice goalkeeper Mile Svilar. Lorenzo Pellegrini, who is struggling with a thigh injury, is also out, meaning Matias Soule is likely to start behind Donyell Malen. Roma's probable lineup is Gollini; N'Dicka, Mancini, Hermoso; Molina, De Roon, Pisilli, Wesley; Cristante, Soule; Malen. The prediction is a Roma win.