Stuttering Roma could possibly be with out two key figures when it makes the journey north to face AC Milan in Serie A on Sunday.
Coach Jose Mourinho is suspended for the third time this season after he was despatched off on the finish of final weekend’s 1-1 draw with Atalanta. Coincidentally, the previous Inter Milan coach additionally missed Roma’s different journey to San Siro — the stadium he used to name dwelling — as he was banned from the match at Inter in October.
Without its enigmatic coach on the bench, Roma can be hoping key ahead Paulo Dybala recovers in time for the sport.
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Dybala limped off on the finish of the primary half of Wednesday’s Italian Cup quarterfinal at metropolis rival Lazio and needed to be substituted on the break after one more flareup of a long-standing muscular subject. Roma went on to lose 1-0, conceding the decisive aim by a penalty six minutes after the interval.
“It was a difficult halftime for us, because losing Paulo is a lot for us,” Mourinho stated. “I immediately felt in that dressing room that losing Paulo wasn’t just losing an important player, but also losing our spirit, our confidence.”
Dybala has already had three separate harm layoffs this season, lacking a complete of seven matches. The first sport he was sidelined for was the house match in opposition to Milan in September and Roma misplaced 2-1.
“It’s his usual muscle problem,” Mourinho stated. “He played about 80 minutes of a very physical match two days ago. It’s difficult for Paulo to recover in two days. He wanted to play this game and we needed everyone to give their all.
“When Paulo’s problem flares up, it changes everything for him … These are the difficulties we have. I’m a little disappointed with some of the players individually because we should do better.”
Wednesday’s loss was Roma’s third in six matches in all competitors. It has additionally gained solely as soon as within the league up to now month and that has seen it slip to eighth in Serie A, 4 factors beneath fourth-placed Fiorentina.
However, Roma has confronted 4 of the highest six sides in that interval of 5 league matches. Its solitary win got here in opposition to defending champion Napoli, which is at the moment ninth.
Roma faces one other high facet on Sunday, with Milan third in Serie A.
A laser beam shines on Roma’s Paulo Dybala’s hand as he prepares to take a free kick through the quarterfinal Italian Cup match between Lazio and Roma at Rome’s Olympic Stadium.
| Photo Credit:
Gregorio Borgia/ AP
A laser beam shines on Roma’s Paulo Dybala’s hand as he prepares to take a free kick through the quarterfinal Italian Cup match between Lazio and Roma at Rome’s Olympic Stadium.
| Photo Credit:
Gregorio Borgia/ AP
“On an individual level, I may not be completely satisfied with some of the players but as a team the lads are giving everything they have in what is a really rough time for us,” Mourinho stated.
Milan was additionally eradicated from the Italian Cup on Wednesday. But that was its first loss in seven matches.
The Rossoneri had gained 5 of these video games as Stefano Pioli’s facet recovered from its personal tough interval that appeared to even put the coach’s job in danger.
“There’s only one option: we go again with determination and turn this disappointment into strength, energy and competitive instinct,” Pioli stated. “This will allow us to get back to winning ways in the league against Roma on Sunday. We’re still in two competitions.
“We’re getting back to form in Serie A, which absolutely needs to continue, then we’ll focus on the Europa League after.”
Milan desperately wants a win on Sunday to keep up its slim title possibilities. It is seven factors behind Juventus and 9 beneath Serie A pacesetter and metropolis rival Inter.
Inter visits Monza on Saturday and Juventus hosts Sassuolo on Tuesday.
Source: sportstar.thehindu.com