Mourinho: "I never thought Dybala would be able to play 90 minutes against Lecce"

Roma head coach Jose Mourinho spoke about striker Paulo Dybala after the 2-1 victory over Lecce in the 11th round of the Italian league.

Paulo Dibala, Getty Images

"Paulo is important for us. He really did a lot for us today.

I never thought he would be able to play 90 minutes - not me, not Paulo, not the doctors. He played 98 minutes and he did it because of the emotions that this game caused, for the result, to help the team. His condition was not to play 90 minutes, we decided that he would not take penalties or free kicks, would not shoot from long range. He was not in optimal condition, but he stayed to get the result. In the first half, he was hit in the ankle, but he said it was nothing and went on.

I think it's better for him not to travel with us to visit Slavia Prague. I told him how I felt about it, but he said he wanted to be with us," Mourinho told Sky Sport.

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