Roma return to the Champions League at the Olimpico on Wednesday night for the first time in seven years, with Real Madrid providing the occasion and José Mourinho returning to a stadium where his bond with the supporters remains intact. Gian Piero Gasperini has asked for recognition of the scale of the evening, but not for a change in character from his side.
The Roma coach described the meeting as an important test of a team he believes is moving forward. Real Madrid may still be adapting after appointing a new coach and altering their approach, he said, yet their recent win over Inter was a reminder of the level Roma will face.
“We are in a positive spell and want to test ourselves against one of Europe’s finest teams,” Gasperini said. “It is a prestigious match, it matters for the standings, and we are ready.”
Gasperini wants Roma to remain themselves
Gasperini rejected the idea that Roma should measure themselves against Madrid as clubs. On the pitch, however, he wants his players to approach the contest without inferiority.
He pointed to the performances against Inter and Como as evidence of Roma’s domestic progress, describing them as the strongest teams in Italy. The Madrid match, in his view, will show how far that level can travel into Europe.
Roma were forced into a more cautious display at Como, but Gasperini does not intend to abandon the principles that brought the club into the Champions League. He acknowledged that Madrid’s attacking players can make danger out of very little, while insisting Roma must stay faithful to their own identity.
“We should not compare ourselves with Real Madrid as a squad, but we must compete with them on equal terms during the game,” he said. “Our usual approach has brought us important results. We know their attacking quality, but Roma should not lose its characteristics.”
A long European project
Gasperini also placed the occasion in a wider context. His ambition is for Roma to establish themselves at a level beyond what Atalanta achieved during his years in Bergamo, though he stressed that such progress depends on many factors and cannot be declared in advance.
Atalanta rose steadily until they were competing for a Champions League quarter-final place, but Gasperini said Italian clubs now find it difficult to challenge for more in the competition. Roma, he added, cannot make grand promises for this campaign; the priority is to strengthen the club gradually over a long journey.
He defended the work of his current group against comparisons with Mourinho’s Roma. Mourinho inherited a club under new ownership, accompanied by considerable enthusiasm, whereas Gasperini sees his own side as a tough and developing team which earned Champions League qualification.
“That achievement is sometimes overlooked,” he said. “Trophies matter, but this competition also brings financial resources that allow a club to keep improving.”
Asked what he might take from Mourinho as a coach, Gasperini answered with a smile: his ability to build such strong empathy with owners that they are persuaded to buy outstanding players.
Mourinho’s homecoming
Gasperini expects Mourinho to receive the welcome earned by his time in Rome. The former Roma coach remains one of the game’s most decorated figures, and Gasperini said the affection between Mourinho and the supporters deserves to be recognised.
Once the match begins, though, he expects the stadium’s attention to settle entirely on Roma.
Gasperini declined to discuss any renewed interest in Endrick, saying there would be no request put to Mourinho and that the January transfer window remains far away. The immediate focus, he said, is an occasion the Olimpico has waited years to host.
Malen looking beyond Como dismissal
Donyell Malen joined Gasperini at the pre-match press conference as he seeks to put his red card at Como behind him. The Dutch forward said he was disappointed by the incident and apologised to his team-mates for leaving them to play the final half-hour without him.
Malen maintained that he had not meant to hurt anyone, and admitted it was difficult to watch the conclusion of the match from the dressing room. His attention has now turned to Roma’s own performance rather than the apparent gap between the sides.
“Real Madrid remain an extremely strong team, but we have to concentrate on ourselves,” Malen said.
The fixture also brings him back to the opponent who beat him in the 2024 Champions League final. He does not intend to dwell on that loss. With Roma at home, he believes the Olimpico crowd can give the team significant support and make the night one to embrace.
Malen credited Gasperini with playing a decisive part in his excellent 2026, particularly through the trust shown from the beginning. Other elements have helped him settle in Italy, but the confidence of his coach has been central to his progress.
