​Gasperini fires back at Mourinho “dead” claim after Roma collapse to Real Madrid

Roma head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has launched a fiery response to Real Madrid manager José Mourinho following his team’s dramatic Champions League collapse at the Stadio Olimpico, according to a report by GOAL.

​After Real Madrid overturned a two-goal deficit to win 4-3 with three late goals from set-pieces, Mourinho claimed Roma’s players were mentally and physically “dead.”

Gasperini strongly rejected the assessment, insisting Roma outclassed the Spanish giants for 80 minutes before succumbing to late physical vulnerabilities from corner kicks. He expressed frustration at his side’s defensive paralysis near the finish line while confirming injury setbacks for Manu Koné and Paulo Dybala.​

Despite the painful defeat, Gasperini maintained that Roma proved they could compete with Europe’s elite, urging his squad to quickly digest the disappointment.