Joy and sorrow are currently close together at AS Roma. While Romelu Lukaku has been scoring consistently for José Mourinho's team in recent weeks, Paulo Dybala was carried off the field in tears at Cagliari on Sunday. There are major concerns about the Argentine star player at AS Roma.
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Dybala received a knock to his knee in the 37th minute against Cagliari, after which he was substituted in tears. According to Sky Italia, there were fears of a torn cruciate ligament, but a check on Monday revealed that it is a sprain of the knee ligaments. Surgery is not necessary, however, the Argentine may be out until mid/late November.
Mourinho commented on the injury to one of his star players on DAZN. 'I am not very optimistic, because Paulo is not either. I trust the feelings of my players. They know their bodies best, I think. It is certain that we will be without him for a while.'
At the same time, there was joy at Roma due to Lukaku's performance. The Belgian striker scored two goals against Cagliari. Partly because of this, AS Roma secured their third consecutive victory (1-4). The much-discussed forward now has seven goals for Mourinho's team in eight matches.
Italian media are also praising Lukaku. 'He is once again devastating at Roma,' says La Repubblica. TuttoMercatoWeb, on the other hand, writes that the striker, loaned from Chelsea, 'dominates his opponents'. 'He doesn’t need to touch the ball much to score. Without Lautaro, Lukaku seems happier.'
Lukaku himself made a statement after the match: 'Many people have talked about me, but I show what I am worth on the field. Mourinho and I have a special bond. He believes in me, and I believe in him. He is tough when he needs to be, but it's the only way to get better.'
With the victory over Cagliari, Roma moves up to tenth place in Serie A. However, the top four teams are at least six points clear.
Updated: 11:08, 9 Oct 2023
