Tiago Pinto explains Dybala absence from Roma bench

Roma director Tiago Pinto explains why Paulo Dybala is not even on the bench for today’s game against Salernitana, as focus turns to the Europa League Final with Sevilla.

Rick Karsdorp and Marash Kumbulla are out for the rest of the season, but Chris Smalling and Stephan El Shaarawy return to the starting XI this evening.

Dybala was expected to again be on the bench, but eyebrows were raised when his name did not appear on the squad list, despite being at the stadium.

“As you all saw, he had a horrible knock in Bergamo and is recovering. Our objective now is to get everyone in shape for the Final, so seeing as he did not feel 100 per cent today, it was decided not to have him on the bench,” Tiago Pinto told DAZN.

The knock was a badly sprained ankle during the defeat to Atalanta on April 24.

“Jose Mourinho, the coaching and medical staff are all working together to get the players in condition for the final weeks of the season.”

Roma will face Sevilla in the Europa League Final at the Puskas Arena in Budapest on May 31.

Winning that tournament would guarantee qualification for the Champions League next season, not to mention being the second consecutive trophy for the Giallorossi under Mourinho after the Europa Conference League in 2022.