“Kone has recovered, he trained with us all week, he has a few minor ailments, he’s not quite 100%, but he’s definitely available. I don’t know if he’ll start or start during the match, but he’s available. The rest of the team is feeling the heat and the temperatures, so we need to be good at being there at the right time tomorrow night, when it’s time to play, because it’s a very important match.”
That was the update on the biggest injury-related question mark heading into Sunday’s decisive match
against Hellas Verona. The stakes are clear. Win, and Roma finally returns to Europe’s premier club competition: the UEFA Champions League. Anything less, and Roma would need lots of help to hold onto a top-four spot.
So, Manu Koné’s availability could be vital to Gian Piero Gasperini’s setup, especially given the injury to Evan Ndicka and the red card received by Wesley in Roma’s derby victory. Those two are crucial cogs in the wheel of Gasperini’s football at Roma, so the loss of Roma’s most dynamic midfielder would’ve made it just a bit more difficult for the Roma CT.
Daniele Ghilardi is expected to step into the back three in place of the injured Ndicka. He will likely take up the usual place of derby hero Gianluca Mancini on the right side of the three, with Mancini sliding to the center to fill Ndicka’s role. Meanwhile, Mario Hermoso will take his usual place on the left.
The absence of Wesley likely eliminates the option of having Zeki Çelik slide into the back three since he will be needed to cover at wing back. By keeping Çelik on the right wing, Devyne Rensch will play on the left.
While Gasperini was noncommittal about Koné starting from the opening whistle, if he’s fit, that seems the most likely scenario. The Frenchman is expected to start alongside Bryan Cristante. In front of them, in the attacking midfield, is one of the few question marks heading into the match at the Bentigodi. Paulo Dybala is a certainty to start, while there is some debate over whether Matías Soulé or Niccoló Pisilli will start alongside him.
Gasperini answered a question about Soulé, saying, “He had a very positive part of the season, scoring goals and providing assists, but then he had a long layoff, almost 50 days, which reduced his impact on the team. Last year he played fifth, but this year his characteristics have made him a more attacking player. The important thing is that he’s healthy: he’s still young, and once he’s fully recovered from his pubalgia, he can become even stronger.”
We believe Soulé will see his name on the team sheet ahead of Pisilli. Of course, rounding out the XI will be Roma’s two fixtures from the second half of the season, Donyell Malen and Mile Svilar, who was named Serie A goalkeeper of the year this week.
“Ah, well. There was someone who said, ‘Give me a goalkeeper who saves and a midfielder who scores, and I’ll take care of the rest,’ and he was a great coach. Now I have both, and it shows (laughs),” said Gasperini to conclude his presser.
ROMA (3-4-2-1): Svilar; Hermoso, Mancini, Ghilardi; Rensch, Cristante, Koné, Çelik; Dybala, Soulé; Malen.
