The coach, on the eve of the home game against Monza, announces Smalling’s absence and the return of the Spanish player Llorente. Then he had some big words for Lukaku and expresses his opinion on the betting case:
SMALLIN & LLORENTE
“From what I understand, speaking with the doctors and some acquaintances, his injury causes pain. It’s difficult to work and endure the pain, even though it’s the type of injury where sometimes you have to return to the field despite the discomfort.”
“He had these limitations; already last week, he started working without the team, and yesterday was the first day he worked with us, but we worked at low intensity. He won’t be available tomorrow. Llorente, on the other hand, is available” said Roma’s coach, José Mourinho, on the eve of the match against Monza, discussing the conditions of the injured defenders.
RENATO SANCHES AND THE OTHER INJURIES
“I hope Renato can return next week. ” Mourinho continues. “He trained with us for three days, two of which were of a high intensity. Renato Sanches and Pellegrini won’t be available, just like Abraham and Kumbulla, of course. But I’m happy to have seen Marash and Tammy step onto the field, and this makes me optimistic. Renato continues to not train with the team; I hope he can return to training with us next week. Dybala is training on the field with the fitness coach.”
LUKAKU
“Lukaku changes the team’s numbers.” “We have scored some beautiful team goals: if another team with another coach had scored them, they would have received more attention,” Mourinho continues. “In terms of construction and teamwork, we are better than last year. When we are all together, we are a team that plays better than in previous years. Then it’s clear that Lukaku changes everything, both quantitatively and qualitatively. When you have players like him, everything is different.”
ON ILIGAL BETTING
“I trust my players, I spoke with Zalewski and I had a good laugh because I was the first to talk to him, and he didn’t even know what had come out,” Mou explained about the names that came out recently in connection with the betting on illegal sites.
“Then I spoke with him and El Shaarawy again here. After what I heard I am happy and calm. I’m a bit sad because it damages the players’ image if they are not guilty. They have a good enough relationship with me to tell me the truth, even if it’s ugly. I trust them.
