On the field at 18 Rome-Verona 0-0 LIVE LIVE
The eve.
There seems to be no end to the worst for Josè Mourinho.
The eve of the match against Verona is shaken by injuries and Covid cases (4 in total, all symptomatic and with a strengthened green pass) which put the Special One in great difficulty already in deploying eleven players.
"With nine absentees it would be hard for anyone - explained the coach at the conference - but whoever takes to the pitch must feel the passion that people put into it because on Saturday there will be a 50% sold out".
Meanwhile, the list of absentees is long: from Spinazzola to Ibanez, passing through Mancini, El Shaarawy, Boer, Mkhitaryan, Carles Perez and Shomurodov.
A list that Zaniolo does not sign up for now, as he felt discomfort in his quadriceps during training on Thursday.
The doctors and physiotherapists will do everything to put him back on his feet and at least have him available to enter the race in progress.
"I'm sorry that I will have to destroy half of the Primavera, but we need players to be sent to the bench" was the warning from Josè Mourinho, who crosses his fingers in the hope that the cluster of positives will stop at four players.
In the meantime, among the few certainties of training there seems to be Tammy Abraham.
"I am satisfied with what he has done so far, but he has the potential to do even better"
has relaunched the Special One which he then prefers not to comment on to those who ask him how he relates to the silence of the Friedkins.
"I can say that I have only great respect, personal and professional, for them. What else could I add? They are my superiors".
The concentration of 'Mou' is all on a formation practically to be invented and which will launch the young Afena-Gyan once again from the first minute.
There is no room even for the regret of a week that saw the return of the Champions League but without the possibility of playing it by the Special One.
"I certainly do not cry because now I play the Conference, I am privileged to have played over 150 Champions League games", thundered Mou who looks after the present without even giving credit to the indiscretions that bounce in England, with the Sun (always generous with news on negotiations and also of fantasy market) that would have brought Cristiano Ronaldo closer to his Rome for next season.