Now 80 year old, Fabio Capello , needs little introduction to passionate Italian football fans. The 32 capped Italian international midfielder may no longer be a regular household name, but he enjoyed a very good professional playing career, representing ourselves, Juventus and AC Milan.

Most will, in fact, know him best from his spell in management.The serial winning manager won nine major league championship trophies in 16 seasons as a gaffer, counting AS Roma, AC Milan, Real Madrid and Juventus as employers, before moving on to international football and spells with England and Russia. As an occasional commentator on the game, and his more regular opinion offerings given his knowledge and insight, he was recently tasked by Gazzetta dello Sport to give his thoughts on the opening week of the 2026/27 Serie A campaign, and obviously, Roma, are once again in his thoughts.As many betting sites with low deposit may have predicted over the summer, the highlights from the opening five domestic league games are our place in top spot, with 13 points secured from four straight wins and the draw with second placed Inter Milan at the weekend.

On a wider front, it has been a fantastic start to the year and just three points separate eight different sides.For Capello, this brings joy to him. Not least because he suggested that he was entirely un-surprised that we top the table and have started the season in such fine form.

In his eyes, having followed the pre season build up campaign, he felt we were ‘the most ready’ side at the big kick off this year, and we have simply performed and pick up the results that were needed to prove that.The recent Inter clash has not in any way changed his opinion that we are one of the favourites for the Serie A title this year, or at the very least, will be there or thereabouts once again.In many ways, he actually felt that having blown a two goal lead in the match, that it would serve us well as a teaching moment and ensure that in future games our game management was slightly better, and that we would be far better on guard against allowing our attention to drop again in a similar manner.“What can Roma learn from the 2-2 draw with Inter? What a huge expense full-court pressing is.

Ultimately, when attention drops, top-tier opponents—like Inter—take advantage. And it’s been seen.”Capello went on to praise 68 year old head coach Gian Piero Gasperini for what he has brought to the Stadio Olimpico since he arrived from Atalanta in the summer of 2025.“ Gasperini managed to convince them right from the transfer window: the players and the coach really wanted each other, and it shows that this team believes in itself.

Some have even cut their salaries…I see desire and awareness.”Whilst we now have to deal with a three odd week break to enable the first international window of the season to take place, confidence and optimism will be high that we can get straight back to winning ways when real football returns in October. Then as we get closer to the true business end of the season following the arrival of the New Year, we will see how accurate Capello proves to be once again.