Jose Mourinho admits Paulo Dybala is ‘not optimistic’ about the knee injury, but the win in Cagliari saw Roma find some ‘solidity’ and he again shrugs off talk of a dismissal.
It was a dominant performance in Sardinia and a third straight win in all competition, putting the crisis talk behind them.
Romelu Lukaku bagged a brace, with Houssem Aouar and Andrea Belotti completing the rout, while Leandro Paredes provided a couple of assists.
This was not a third straight clean sheet, because Nahitan Nandez converted a late penalty for Bryan Cristante’s handling offence.
There was bad news, as Dybala limped off in the first half practically in tears after a nasty knock to his left knee. There were initial reports that medical staff were ‘cautiously optimistic’ that it is only a bruise, but Mourinho did not share that view.
“I listen to my players. Paulo is not optimistic and therefore I am not optimistic,” the coach told DAZN.
“Obviously we must wait a couple of days for the results of tests, but I trust the experience of the player, who knows his body well. Paulo is not optimistic and thus neither am I. The medics only want to talk when they have checked everything.”
Mourinho had complained about the damage done by injuries to Renato Sanches and Lorenzo Pellegrini to limit their midfield options, but today’s system with Leandro Paredes and Edoardo Bove together seemed to work well.
“It gives us a little more solidity. Obviously, the defeat to Genoa was a very strange game, but we spent a lot of time analysing that match and realised that because we are not a super fast or intense team, Renato Sanches usually gives us an engine and losing Cristante too, we needed to make adjustments.
“It was important to find solidity to help the transition, while the two wing-backs, there is always someone ready to help out and keep that balance. We did not suffer counter-attacks, so I think we have found some solidity.
“Today was tough, as we only had kids on the bench and with all three midfielders booked in the first half, we had to be careful. We could not risk losing the ball and allowing a counter-attack, so we tried to find that balance instead.”
Roma released a statement this week to hit back against the Corriere dello Sport claim that they were preparing to sack their coach, so how did Mourinho react?
“I work every day with my staff, these are the people at Trigoria who work every day together, we train together, we eat together, this is our bubble. We only thought of one thing, which was to win the next game.
“I live in a very isolated way, I don’t have a big social life going out and meeting people in the street or the restaurant, so I am also isolated from the voices that are out there.
“I am not a child, I know full well what I want for myself and I am calm. I’m very happy that we won this game, not very happy with 11 points as I feel we should’ve had more, but at the same time we are not far off the places we are aiming at.
“It’s a pity everyone is going out now on international duty. We will certainly lose Paulo for a while, but will see if we manage to get some of the four who are hurt back to full fitness.
“It was tough today with so few options, but they showed real team spirit.”
Pressed again on how he reacted to the club releasing a formal statement to deny they were looking for another coach, Mourinho would not take the bait.
“I don’t know what you are talking about. I have a contract until June 30, I know full well what I want, which is to give everything for Roma. I am here to help the lads get results that the club, the fans and all of us want, because this is our life.”