Gasperini stays true to Roma's identity as Mourinho returns to the Olimpico
Ahead of facing Real Madrid, Gian Piero Gasperini explains why Roma won't soften their approach for José Mourinho's emotional return, while praising his old rival's knack for persuading clubs to spend big.
Gian Piero Gasperini has made clear that Roma will not bend their approach to accommodate the occasion when José Mourinho returns to the Stadio Olimpico with Real Madrid on Tuesday, insisting instead that the crowd will back the home side once the Champions League match begins.
The fixture carries obvious emotional weight. Mourinho was sacked by Roma in January 2024 after winning the Conference League in 2021-22 and reaching the Europa League final the year after, a spell that left him with lasting affection among the club's supporters, Football Italia reported.
Gasperini does not dispute that affection. Asked about the reception Mourinho is likely to receive, he said there "surely was love for Mourinho from our fans, so he'll deserve all the recognition he'll receive," before adding that such feelings cannot be legislated against but will not survive kick-off, when he expects the stadium to focus entirely on Roma.
Why Gasperini won't adjust his team for the occasion
The more revealing part of Gasperini's press conference was his refusal to treat Real Madrid as a reason to rethink how Roma play. He pointed out that the same attitude which brought a third-place finish last season is not something to discard for a single prestigious fixture, arguing that Roma's characteristics should not be distorted by the opponent in front of them.
That is a coherent position for a manager whose teams are built around a consistent identity rather than opponent-specific tweaks. Gasperini's comment that Real Madrid are simply the latest in a line of valuable teams Roma have already faced this season, following games against Inter and Como, frames the Madrid fixture as a measuring stick rather than an exception. The idea, as he put it, is to use matches like this to understand how competitive Roma genuinely are, not to abandon the method that got them into the Champions League in the first place.
He was equally pointed about Real Madrid's own situation, noting they have changed both manager and formation and may still need matches to find their rhythm, even while acknowledging their resources make them capable of winning any game. His remark that the aesthetic quality of their football has room for improvement reads as a calculated piece of pre-match framing, lowering the stakes around Roma's own attacking limitations by suggesting the visitors are still a work in progress too.
Two different Romas, one pointed joke
Gasperini was asked directly to compare this Roma side with the one Mourinho managed, and his answer doubled as a comment on recruitment strategy as much as tactics. He described Mourinho's Roma as a club under new ownership with strong financial backing and heavy spending, in contrast to his own group, which he characterised as a developing, resilient team that earned its Champions League place and the resources that come with it.
That distinction matters because it reframes expectations. Gasperini explicitly said Real Madrid should not be used as the benchmark for his Roma, given their global stature and trophy count, and that the real test is what happens on the pitch rather than any comparison of spending power.
His praise for Mourinho carried a similar edge. Asked what he admired about the Portuguese, Gasperini pointed to his ability to persuade clubs to buy expensive players, singling out the signing of Diomande as an example before joking, "well done, great José!" It was delivered with a smile, according to Football Italia, but it doubled as a dig at the financial gulf between Mourinho's past Roma and his current Real Madrid compared with Gasperini's own squad.
What the result will actually test
Roma go into the match having drawn 1-1 away at Fenerbahce in their opening Champions League group fixture, while Real Madrid began their campaign by beating Inter. Gasperini called it a prestigious and meaningful game for the table, language that suggests he sees genuine points on offer rather than a ceremonial occasion built around Mourinho's return.
For a club trying to establish itself as a regular Champions League presence after qualifying last season, matches of this profile function as evidence rather than spectacle. Gasperini's insistence that Roma have already tested themselves against two of Italy's strongest sides in Inter and Como positions the Real Madrid fixture as the next data point in that process, with his team's response likely to say more about their European credentials than the reception reserved for the man in the opposite dugout.