Jose Mourinho is confident Roma and Tammy Abraham will rediscover their scoring form against Venezia. ‘It’d be more worrying if we didn’t create the chances.’
It kicks off on Sunday at 11.30 GMT at the Stadio Penzo in Venice.
Riccardo Calafiori, Matias Vina, Leonardo Spinazzola and Chris Smalling are out injured, but Lorenzo Pellegrini is expected to grit his teeth and play despite a knee problem.
After the 2-2 Europa Conference League draw with Bodo/Glimt on Thursday, the pressure is on to get this team back on track.
“There are teams that create far fewer chances than we do and yet score more goals,” said Mourinho during his press conference.
“We are struggling at the moment, not in creating the opportunities, but in finishing them. It’d be more worrying if we didn’t create the chances, if we didn’t dominate the match.”
Tammy Abraham received another call-up for England, but has fired blanks for weeks now.
“The time will come when Tammy breaks his duck, for me he is the same player who did so well in the early weeks and he will get back to scoring goals.
“I liked Borja Mayoral against Bodo/Glimt, he provided two great assists, one for a goal, one for almost a goal. He provided movement and quality.
“As for Gonzalo Villar, it’s the same old issue, I like him a lot when he’s on the ball, I don’t like him off it.”
With no left-backs, Mourinho hinted Bryan Cristante could again be in central defence and Roger Ibanez on the left, but “it could be Ibanez central and Tripi on the left. He’s not a full-back either, but is more attack-minded and did play over the summer.
“In a squad like ours, when there are problems, we need to adapt and use players in positions that they are not accustomed to.”
Venezia beat Fiorentina here, followed by defeats to Sassuolo and Salernitana, then holding Genoa 0-0.
“Venezia are a very balanced team, I think they will remain in their current position, in other words stay in Serie A,” added Mourinho.
“They don’t have weaknesses, they play good football, have principles and want to play out from the back. They are also dangerous on the counter, so it will be difficult for us.”
It’s not a Mourinho press conference without some tension and combative approach to the reporters, so this was his response to a question about what he would’ve done differently.
“You always come here. I prefer to think it’s not that that you are lacking intelligence, it’s that you do this on purpose.”