Roma, in the name of the squad

Analysis of Roma's repeated Champions League collapses, with Mourinho's observation that players tire athletically and the squad lacks depth to compete against elite European sides.

Roma have suffered another devastating comeback loss in the Champions League, this time against Manchester United, prompting reflection on why a team that plays brilliantly for an hour cannot sustain that level against Europe's top clubs.

The article examines two key factors: the team's playing style under Gasperini, which demands maximum effort from the outset, and the squad's overall quality. While Roma's roster is strong enough to dominate Serie A, it struggles when facing five-star European opponents. José Mourinho observed after Real Madrid's recent win at the Olimpico that Roma's players were "dead" by the end, having expended too much energy early on. The statistics support this: Roma have conceded eight goals in the Champions League, seven of them in the second half or final quarter-hour of matches.

The collapses against both Real Madrid and Manchester United share a common thread—the team's physical and tactical breakdown in the closing stages. Without several key players through injury or suspension, and with some tactical substitutions failing to address the problem, Roma face a structural challenge: they are equipped to excel in Italy but not to compete consistently at the highest European level.