Mancini Embraces Totti’s Mindset Ahead of Europa League Clash

ROME, Italy — Gianluca Mancini, defender for AS Roma, is looking to embody the mindset of club legend Francesco Totti as he prepares for Thursday’s pivotal Europa League matchup against FC Porto. Following a minor injury in a recent match against Parma, Mancini confirmed at a press conference on Wednesday that he has fully recovered and is excited to compete.

“It was a hard knock, but I’ve recovered. Everything is fine,” Mancini stated. His commitment to Roma is evident as he expressed his love for both the city and the club, emphasizing, “I feel great here in Rome; I love this city and this club. The fans appreciate me, and that makes me want to give even more.”

Mancini’s contract runs through 2027, and he believes the current team atmosphere resembles a family. He added, “This year, the team feels like a family. I’ve never seen a group like this.” Roma is poised to face either Athletic Club or their city rivals Lazio in the Round of 16, but Mancini insisted that the focus remains solely on Porto.

“Whatever comes next, we’ll deal with it then. The only thing that matters right now is tomorrow. It’s an important match. In recent years, Roma have played many of these kinds of games. It’s a do-or-die match,” he said. Mancini stressed the need for the right tension when competing against a strong team. “There needs to be the right amount of tension to approach a big game against a great team and advance to the next round.”

Discussing Porto, Mancini noted the strength of their lineup, recalling his experience against forward Jonathan Omorodion. “Last week, I had Omorodion to deal with, and tomorrow, we’ll analyze the characteristics of whoever I’ll be facing. Based on that, I’ll prepare as best as possible,” he said.

This season, Mancini has improved his conduct on the field, collecting fewer yellow cards. Reflecting on his previous disciplinary issues, he said, “I looked at myself in the mirror and realized I couldn’t afford to miss three or four games a year due to excessive protests.”

He credited the arrival of coach Claudio Ranieri with improving team dynamics. “When the coach walked into the dressing room, it was like my body relaxed,” Mancini explained. “He didn’t need introductions. He has coached champions and great teams. Now, everyone has their own role, and he has worked on the concept of unity, staying together.”

Mancini noted the transformation in team morale under Ranieri’s leadership, stating, “There were no smiles or sense of calm in the weeks before he arrived. First and foremost, you need to be happy to come to training. If you’re not calm and focused, results don’t come. Now, we are starting to see results. We haven’t achieved anything yet, but we are making progress.”