Roma overtake Spezia but find themselves once again having to deal with injuries and suspensions: apprehension over Smalling’s conditions.
To return to win in the championship to present themselves in the head-to-head clash Atalanta without losing points in the standings. This was the goal that Rome had set itself in view of last night’s match against Spezia. Objective achieved thanks to a 2-0 that allows the Giallorossi to hoist themselves to sixth place at 28 points, in cohabitation with Juventus.
The match against the Ligurians was not easy, but Roma took him home with the right authority and thanks to two headers by Smalling and Ibanez. Not only happy notes, however, come for the yellow and red colors at the end of the challenge. To underline the negative aspects was José Mourinho himself, who commenting on the victory in the post-match interviews highlighted a couple of elements of concern: the relationship with the referees – and the many cards that are regularly inflicted on Roma – and the physical condition of Chris Smalling, replaced at 64 ‘for a physical problem.
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The Englishman, from the moment of his return to the field, has given security and solidity to the defensive department, proving to be an essential element. Yet often Mourinho has had to do without him in recent months. In August Smalling he had been the victim of an injury to his left thigh flexor. Then, in early October, a similar problem had involved the right leg. Many absences and little continuity. Now that the defender had returned steadily, it was hoped that the worst was behind him. But yesterday evening seems to be going in another direction.
The player yesterday accused a discomfort in the right adductor. His condition will be evaluated in the next few days and will probably require instrumental tests, but Mourinho’s words at the end of the match last night did not hide a certain worry in view of the away match in Bergamo: “Even today we recover Mancini for the next one, but we lose Smalling, Felix”Explained the technician, assuming the absence of English is certain. Smalling therefore almost certainly faces the third stop of the season. The hope is that recovery times may be faster than in recent months. Unfortunately, however, Roma probably lose the central pivot of defense just on the eve of an important match like the one against Gasperini’s Nerazzurri.
