Roma boss Jose Mourinho spoke to the media ahead of tomorrow’s showdown with Atalanta at the Stadio Olimpico.
In his pre-match press conference, Mourinho previewed the must-win match.
“We haven’t recovered anyone for tomorrow. No Smalling, no Sanches, no Kumbulla. Mancini is also far from full recovery but he will play through it,” said the Special One when asked about the conditions of his roster.
“Atalanta are a very good team, a high-caliber opponent. It will be an extremely difficult match for us. But we’re also a tough team so they’re also going to struggle against us,” he added.
On Roma’s new signing, Dean Huijsen, Mourinho commented, “Huijsen is an 18-year-old boy with hardly any playing time in Serie A, but he is promising and will be a great player in the future. Our squad situation and UEFA limitations force us to focus on a player who is not ours but belongs to Juventus.”
“If he can make it, tomorrow Huijsen will be with us on the bench. He is ready to play because he is mentally ready and we only have Mancini and Llorente as central defenders.”
On Tiago Pinto’s decision to depart the club, Mourinho said, “I respect his decision to leave. I’m in no position to comment on his body of work. We’re good friends. I wish him the best and he knows it.”
“Paredes also worries me because he received a blow against Cremonese, he doesn’t have a fracture but he’s not at his best and I hope he can play tomorrow,” added the Special One.
“Smalling? I don’t hope to see him return to training before the end of this month,” he added. “Smalling’s injury and recovery times ruined my season. And then there is also Renato Sanches who was never in form and this Africa Cup of Nations which made the situation worse by preventing Ndicka and Aouar from continuing to grow with us.”
