Jose Mourinho looked ahead to tomorrow’s Europa League clash against HJK Helsinki, confirming that forward Nicolo Zaniolo will return to action.
The Giallorossi suffered a painful 2-1 defeat to Bulgarian outfit Ludogorets in their European opener last week and they’re looking for redemption against their Finnish opponents, desperate to get some points on the board. An edgy 2-1 win over Empoli gave the team some confidence after a tough spell that also saw them lose to Udinese.
Speaking in a press conference, Mourinho first remembered Roma’s 1-0 friendly win over Tottenham in July.
“We didn’t have any defensive problems. For you many times the focus is, is this player responsible for the goal or another.
“Even with the difficulty we were always in control of the situation and for 90 minutes. The attitude was very very strong. I did not have the same in the other games.”
He gave his thoughts on tomorrow’s opponents HJK Helsinki.
“The coach paid attention to me. I like the team, I did the match analysis and I’ve been studying them since Monday after the match against Empoli. They’re a very organised team, they have beauty in their game.
“They lost against Real Betis but it’s a false result, this means that the quality of football in the North is changing. The teams are well organised, the technical level has improved, physically they are always there. The match is difficult, maybe people think it is easy but it isn’t.”
The Portuguese coach confirmed that Zaniolo would be returning to action after his recent shoulder injury.
“Yes he’ll play tomorrow. Zaniolo has been injured without peace of mind, he wanted to return as soon as possible, he worked hard with the doctors, with the fitness trainers, he wanted to be available.
“On Monday he wanted to take a risk, he also wanted to be available for the game. I decided to change things after our second goal, tomorrow he’ll play but I don’t know if he’ll be available for 90 minutes.
“I’m sure he’ll be at a high level, he has a lot of motivation and is full of confidence. He was playing very well before the injury.”
Mourinho spoke about the role of Lorenzo Pellegrini once Zaniolo returns to the fold.
“Last year I talked about three Pellegrini, he can do three different roles very well. He’s a player who can do everything, it’s a shame to have only one. We try to give him the role or roles where he feels best, it’s normal that he can’t do everything at once.
“The team is the most important thing and Lorenzo knows as captain that the team is the most important thing, he has total importance in this team. He is a super important player for us.”
He commented on the condition of new arrival Mady Camara, who joined on loan from Olympiacos this summer.
“He cannot play 90 minutes. When he arrived, he hadn’t played since the match against Slavia Prague and it had been a month.
“He didn’t work at his best when he arrived because he had physical difficulties. He is learning our way of playing and the role of our midfielders, but he will play tomorrow.”
The former Chelsea and Inter coach discussed if Edoardo Bove and Mile Svilar will play against HJK.
“Rui Patricio will play, I don’t like competition. Svilar is a goalkeeper of so much quality and he will play from time to time but not tomorrow, it doesn’t mean he will play all six Europa League games. Bove is growing, I remember he was in the Primavera when I arrived.
“He’s an intelligent boy, he takes things seriously and he’s improving. Every opportunity that comes along he takes it, whether it’s as a starter or a minute. I don’t know if he’ll do what Zalewski did last year, it’s hard to say, but he’s growing.”
Finally, Mourinho spoke about the penalty takers in the Roma squad and if he or the players will decide who’ll take them.
“We always decide before the game, we have a first, second and third choice. Clearly, the player has to feel the confidence and if he is well enough to shoot, in case he gives the opportunity to another teammate.
“Every game there’s the first, in the last one it was Pellegrini, then tomorrow it will be him again.”