Jose Mourinho has ‘faith’ in the young Roma talents launched against Bologna today and reveals what he discussed during the reunion with Marko Arnautovic.
It kicks off at the Stadio Dall’Ara at 17.00 UK time (16.00 GMT).
There is massive squad rotation due to injuries and the upcoming Europa League semi-final with Bayer Leverkusen, having won the first leg 1-0 with an Edoardo Bove goal.
This line-up has an average age of 25 years and 34 days, the youngest starting XI in Mourinho’s entire Serie A career.
“I have faith in those who are on the field. They are people who work hard, want to be available, including Mile Svilar who works every day to the maximum of his capabilities in training and in 10 months played just one game. He deserves this,” Mourinho told DAZN.
“It is an opportunity for Missori to get his first start after minutes in the Conference League and Serie A, but I don’t like people treating this like it is a test. It is simply part of the growth process, for instance like Tahirovic. Those who are on the bench are there because they can play.
“We have players who we can protect from playing 90 minutes, but they still have to play.”
There were a few special reunions in the warm-up, as Mourinho met up again with Thiago Motta, who is now the Bologna coach and was part of his Treble-winning Inter squad in 2010, as well as striker Marko Arnautovic.
The Austria international was also in that squad, even if he only made three appearances. What did he say to Arnautovic?
“I asked him about the nature of his injury and he explained it has been a difficult time for him. After that, the usual questions, how is the family and the kids? Everything is fine.”