With Jose Mourinho under pressure to balance domestic and continental matters over the next few weeks, the Roma boss would have been delighted to see some of his fringe players make the step up during Sunday’s 3-0 thumping of Sampdoria as a gruelling fixture schedule looms on the horizon.
Stephan El Shaarawy marked only his eighth start of the Serie A season with his fourth goal. Gini Wijnaldum continued his post-injury rehabilitation with another league strike.
Diego Llorente, meanwhile, marked his belated, full Scudetto debut with an eye-catching performance alongside Chris Smalling at the heart of Mourinho’s re-jigged backline.
Llorente had only played 34 minutes across each of Roma’s previous seven Serie A fixtures, his January arrival on loan from Leeds United hardly going to plan. But, after impressing in the absence of the suspended Roger Ibanez, could this be a turning point in the Spaniard’s Giallorossi career, Llorente hoping to convince Roma that the £18 million option-to-buy clause in his contract is one worth triggering?
Diego Llorente finally starts for Roma after Leeds United exit
“I’m satisfied,” Mourinho tells DAZN.
“Diego Llorente also played very well with Smalling in a four-man defence,” Mourinho adds. “He worked really well during the (international) break. And, as a manager, that’s what really struck me about today; Llorente’s performance.
“I could have used (Zeki) Celik as a central defender. But he’d never done it before, so we opted for a four-man defence. I was really happy with Llorente because he allowed us to keep more possession.”
Ibanez will be back in time for next week’s trip to Torino, and should also be in contention for the UEFA Europa League quarter-final clash with Arne Slot’s outstanding Feyenoord side. Whether or not Llorente stays in the Italian capital, or returns to West Yorkshire, may depend on how Mourinho uses his squad in the coming weeks.
Is Llorente really a key part of his plans? Or merely an experienced back-up? A long-term addition or short-term, four month solution?
“We train very hard every day to be able to play at our best. We wanted to score a few more goals in the first half, but we’re still happy with our team performance,” Llorente himself tells DAZN following what was his long-awaited first start after over two months in Rome.
“In Spain, I was used to playing in a back four. But Smalling and (Leonardo) Spinazzola helped me a great deal today.”
“Mourinho? I am very happy with the coach’s compliments. When he called me, I immediately came here because it could be a great opportunity for my career. I’m very happy to be here. I am working very hard to be important for this team.”
