Jose Mourinho gives injury updates on his Roma stars going into the Europa League play-off with RB Salzburg and takes a different approach when appealing to the fans. ‘The last thing I want to talk about now is the future.’
The first leg ended 1-0 in Austria, so the Giallorossi need to win just to level the tie and get the victory by two clear goals to qualify for the Round of 16.
The first questions were inevitably about injuries, as Lorenzo Pellegrini, Paulo Dybala and Tammy Abraham are all in doubt, the first two with muscular issues, the striker needing stitches for a cut to his eyebrow.
“They are all in the squad, but not at 100 per cent. We’ll decide together, they are open to helping, we’ll see whether from the start or not,” said Mourinho in his press conference.
“It’s difficult to say what Salzburg will do, as 1-0 is an advantage, but only a minimal one. They do not seem to have the philosophy of a side that will come here and try to draw 0-0, they generally try to play and attack. It might be similar to the first leg, but with a different destiny for us, because then the team that had the best chances to win was us and we lost. Hopefully, tomorrow can go differently.”
There continues to be a great deal of speculation over Mourinho’s future on the Roma bench, with many suggesting he is laying the groundwork for a summer exit.
“The day before this game, the last thing I want to think about is the future, for me or the team. We have to think about tomorrow, a knockout round. In this case, the future is tomorrow. I don’t want to talk about my situation.”
Mourinho had also criticised the fans at the Stadio Olimpico after the win over Verona at the weekend, as they were jeering some players and grumbling in certain situations.
“The other day I finished the press conference saying I wanted to apologise for my words, because it is not my role. I know I am the one who must be criticised by them. Tomorrow I expect my team to have the right attitude and that is where I can try to have a positive influence.
“Obviously, we are accustomed to passionate fans, the Curva that gave us so much last season, especially in this time of decisive match against Leicester, Bodo and Vitesse. They played with us, and if they can do that again, it helps the inertia, dynamics and intensity of the game.
“It will be the stadium atmosphere they want and the atmosphere we will be capable of creating. A team also helps build a positive atmosphere with its approach and performances. All we can control is ourselves.
“You didn’t ask me this time what is more important, Serie A or the Europa League, because you know my answer, the next game is the most important. I hope that the crowd understands we are giving it all we’ve got.”
Georginio Wijnaldum finally made his comeback after fracturing his leg during a training session in August.
“Wijnaldum is improving every day, those 10 minutes he played against Verona showed that the intensity is coming, so he is an option to play more than five minutes.
“Today we had a low-intensity training session, more focused on tactics, but I am sure that the lads want to win the knockout tie and I have no doubts we will arrive with the correct attitude, especially as this team only surprises me when it does not have the right attitude. With all the pressures we are under, the team always gives its all.”