Fabio Pisacane's message before AS Roma vs Cagliari was built around control, not noise. He told TuttoMercatoWeb at the CRAI Sport Center in Assemini, where his press conference ran from 12:48 to 13:08, that Cagliari need to stay clear-headed, and the trip to Rome comes without Harry Winks, Felici or Idrissi.

Pisacane also admitted the squad has leaned heavily on the same group. "This team in the first eight rounds played with the same 8/11," he said. Cagliari have 13 points and sit ninth after eight Serie A matchdays, which is a solid base, but it also explains why he keeps stressing freshness and discipline rather than romance about the fixture.

Cagliari's response without Winks

The Winks absence is the sharpest practical issue. Pisacane said, "Without Winks we certainly lose a lot. He is an important player for us and in the squad we do not have another player with his characteristics. He has a lumbar issue that we still have to assess, but now we have to show that we are not Winks-dependent."

That is where the match turns for Cagliari. He wants more legs, more quality and a different balance in the same game, especially after saying the side have not always been able to keep making the same substitutions or leaning on the same eleven. Trepy travels with the squad, while the rest are available.

Roma's threat at the other end

Roma's side of the story is simpler. Donyel Malen has scored 20 Serie A goals since 1 January, and he has 6 goals in 7 Serie A appearances this season. Roma also have 18 points after eight matchdays, the same total they had a year ago, but they are third rather than second now.

Pisacane was respectful about the opponent, saying Gasperini is a coach who greatly enhances his players and that his teams rarely go to the canvas. He still pointed to risk in Roma's structure, which is probably the correct read for Cagliari. If they lose clarity in possession, Malen is the kind of forward who punishes it quickly.

The Olimpico test is therefore less about bravado than about whether Cagliari can manage the ball better and avoid leaning on the same core again. Rome gets the game next, and AS Roma vs Cagliari is due on 27 October.

Written by Daniel Hartley with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 2 outlets. How we work →