Paulo Fonseca confirms Ebrima Darboe will get his first Roma start against Crotone and explains why injuries hit them so hard.

It kicks off on Sunday at 17.00 UK time (16.00 GMT), click here for a match preview.

The coach is in a strange situation, as he already knows Jose Mourinho will take over from next season, so any questions on the future are shrugged off.

Paulo Fonseca confirms Ebrima Darboe will get his first Roma start against Crotone and explains why injuries hit them so hard.

It kicks off on Sunday at 17.00 UK time (16.00 GMT), click here for a match preview.

The coach is in a strange situation, as he already knows Jose Mourinho will take over from next season, so any questions on the future are shrugged off.

“I will not be the coach next season, so it’s not right for me to say what this team needs or does not need in future. I can only say that this season we missed important players during important periods of the campaign,” said Fonseca in his press conference.

“We had no particular injury problems until March, other than the long-term absentees Nicolò Zaniolo and Chris Smalling. In March we had so many games and the same players were used, so the injuries piled up.

“It’s not just us, it happened to other clubs in Europe too. Bayern Munich played PSG without seven first choice players. These are situations everyone saw more this year.”

There are some positives after the Europa League semi-final exit to Manchester United, as Fonseca confirms 19-year-old Ebrima Darboe will get his first Roma start against Crotone tomorrow.

“Anyone who represents Roma must play to win. That is the motivation, to defend this jersey. We don’t expect anyone back tomorrow, but two or three could return for the Inter game.”

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