Jose Mourinho explains why Romelu Lukaku is on the bench for Roma against Milan and how he told the Chelsea-owned striker that he would be ‘important’ for them.
It kicks off at the Stadio Olimpico at 19.45 UK time (18.45 GMT).
“Lukaku’s last game was played with Belgium after the Champions League Final,” Mourinho told DAZN.
“He did not work with the team, nor did he train with the ball. He is a professional, so he’s not in awful shape, but not great shape either.
“There aren’t many of us in the squad, perhaps he could give us a hand later on. I used Leandro Paredes the other day…”
Mourinho was asked what he had told Lukaku to convince him to come to Roma on loan from Chelsea.
“Nothing, just that he would be important for us.”
This is Mourinho’s season debut on the touchline, having sat out a two-game ban for insulting the referee last term.
“It is different, but… nothing. The decision was from last season and ended up influencing this season. We go forward.”
The Special One had also complained that Paulo Dybala and Lorenzo Pellegrini bans had run over from the previous campaign, forcing them to miss the opener with Salernitana.
However, Dybala picked up an adductor injury in the 2-1 defeat to Verona and is in the stands along with Sardar Azmoun, Renato Sanches, Tammy Abraham and Marash Kumbulla.