Probable Formations: AS Roma vs Bologna

“Dybala won’t be involved tomorrow. He felt a twinge while warming up yesterday. He wanted to train but the niggle wouldn’t go away. I still have to decide whether or not Pellegrini will play.

“He’s [Dybala] had injuries in the past. They’re not an injuries: they’re feelings, scars that pull a little and keep nagging. Not injuries. He felt it a bit in Belgium. He wanted to try and train anyway yesterday but he felt this niggle.”

With that, Ivan Jurić ruled out Paulo Dybala for Sunday’s match against Bologna. It’s a match that appears to be the Croatian’s last in charge of the Giallorossi—win, lose, or draw—with reports speculating that Roma is in discussions with Roberto Mancini to take over the squad during the international break.

If that is indeed the case, it’ll be interesting to see who Jurić goes with after he criticized Roma’s mentality during his brief tenure.

“I don’t know really. I don’t think so. We’ve tried to do everything. What annoys me as a coach and as a man is that I can see we’re capable, that there are games when we’re capable, but then there are others when we play bad. It’s normal. But it’s this lack of consistency on a mental level, not being really on the ball, that has really bothered me.”

That blame seems to fall on the veterans on many levels, so it wouldn’t be surprising if many of the younger players are given a shot from the beginning to send the Croatian out on a winning note—if the Mancini rumors do prove to be true.

This means we could see a midfield and attacking midfield composed of Enzo Le Fée, Manu Konè, Niccoló Pisilli, and Tomasso Baldanzi—four of Roma’s most promising players moving forward. The latter two will try to support Artem Dovbyk up front.

Meanwhile, the defense is expected to be familiar, as Jurić confirmed Evan Ndicka's return from a virus.

“Ndicka has recovered. He had this virus, which some of the assistants had. He’s had a bit of a rest too after all the games he’s played.”

He should be joined by Gianluca Mancini and Angeliño with Mats Hummels again riding the pine. Something Jurić commented on, along with playing Pisilli over Pellegrini on Thursday.

“As for Hummels, there’s never been an argument - he’s a great professional. I’m not going to say it’s purely a footballing decision - maybe there are other reasons. You have to do certain things in order to play well. I have to pick someone who does those things for me and I believe that [Bryan] Cristante did a good job in that position. It’s very simple. There was no argument. Nothing happened. The same goes for me fielding [Nicolo] Pisilli in place of [Lorenzo] Pellegrini – it’s because Pisilli gives me certain things.

“I know it’s tough, and I expected to see more myself, especially when I first came here. Up until now I have to be honest about my job, I have to choose what’s right. I have my demands, and that includes what I ask from Pellegrini. Pisilli played and he gave me more guarantees, even if he’s a kid and Pellegrini is our captain. There’s total professional honesty.”

ROMA (3-4-2-1): Svilar; Mancini, Ndicka, Angeliño; Çelik, Le Fée, Konè, Zalewski; Baldanzi, Pisilli; Dovbyk.