MY ACCOUNT
Jose Mourinho says “there is no point crying” about Roma’s growing injury list, after Paulo Dybala pulled out of Sunday’s showdown with Atalanta.
Dybala was injured during the warm-up ahead of the Serie A clash at Stadio Olimpico – the Argentina international sustaining a left flexor issue in his thigh.
Nemanja Matic replaced the former Juventus forward in the Giallorossi’s starting line-up, with Lorenzo Pellegrini pushing into a more advanced role.
Dybala joins the likes of Georginio Wijnaldum (tibia fracture) and Stephan El Shaarawy (muscular) on the injury list, while Rick Karsdorp is expected to miss around six weeks as he prepares to undergo surgery for a torn meniscus in his left knee.
Nevertheless, Mourinho insists his side must be ready to deal with these setbacks, and not get despondent.
“The squad is in the best shape possible,” he told DAZN. “We were fortunate really to play against 10 men for almost the whole game on Thursday [the 3-0 win over HJK], as that requires less intensity, pressing and running.
“It’s tough, but this is football. With the transfer window closed, there’s no point crying about it now.
“The season is made up of lots of little problems to deal with. The really big one was Wijnaldum, but Rick will be back in at most two months.”
On a brighter note, Nicolo Zaniolo made his Serie A return for the visit of Atalanta, having recovered from a dislocated shoulder.
Mourinho added: “Nico is in good shape, and he’s a player really made to start games. He’s different to the others.”
