Gasperini hits Mourinho hard ahead of the AS Rome-Real Madrid clash

In the bright halo of the Stadio Olimpico, Italian coach Gian Piero Gasperini slipped a sharp remark at José Mourinho, then head of Real Madrid, just before the kickoff of the AS Rome‑Real Madrid fixture scheduled for this Wednesday at 9 p.m. in the Champions League.

A well‑placed provocation

During the press conference, Gasperini recalled that the Inter coached by Mourinho was “very strong” when it won the Champions League in 2010, highlighting the difficulty of beating that side. He then referred to their previous encounters, notably when Mourinho was at Roma, stating that his own Atalanta had clearly progressed, even surpassing Roma in Europe.

The 68‑year‑old Gasperini, in charge of AS Rome since the summer of 2025, concluded with a smile: “José, it’s his results and what he has achieved that speak. He is one of the most decorated managers of all time. His talent and his sense of empathy allow him to attract extraordinary players and to convince clubs to spend considerable sums to sign them.”

Mourinho returns to the Olimpico: Roma face Real Madrid in the Champions League

Context of the duel

AS Rome, unbeaten since the start of the season, currently sits in third place in Serie A, two points behind the duo led by Inter and Lazio. Meanwhile, Real Madrid is in fourth place in La Liga, six points behind Barça, which tops the table ahead of Atlético Madrid and Betis Sevilla.

The match at the Olimpico will be the second day of the Champions League, giving Gasperini the chance to cross paths with Mourinho again, who returned this summer to the Merengue bench after spells at Inter (2008‑2010) and Roma (2021‑2024). Kylian Mbappé’s and Vinícius Jr’s teammates have already started their Champions League campaign with a 2‑1 win over Inter at the Bernabeu.

Inter and Napoli’s Champions League setbacks expose Serie A frailties

This encounter promises to combine the tactical duel of two of the continent’s most experienced managers with the historic rivalry between Rome and Madrid, under the lights of Italy’s biggest stadium.