Paulo Dybala was taken off after 26 minutes during the first leg against Feyenoord due to a discomfort in his right thigh. However, medical examinations have revealed that it’s just fatigue, rather than a serious injury. Paulo Dybala is aware of his body and when any muscle starts to bother him, he takes a break. Mourinho doesn’t force him and is quite considerate of Dybala’s health as he is the only player who can score goals for the team. Dybala’s injury would’ve caused serious problems to the team had it progressed to something more serious, however, Mourinho’s prudent approach has resulted in him being fit enough to play the return game against Feyenoord. He has scored 15 goals and provided eight assists this season, which is evidence of the effectiveness of the investment in the Argentine despite initial doubts about his physical condition.
Tammy Abraham’s shoulder dislocation isn’t as severe as previously thought. He won’t need surgery, but he’s desperate to return to the field as soon as possible. Mourinho is ready to field Belotti as the attacking force if he feels Abraham isn’t ready yet, and it’s unclear whether he will play against Feyenoord today or on April 24 against Atalanta. Meanwhile, tonight the Gallo will try to end his goal drought (zero goals in Serie A) and will be supported by El Shaarawy and Pellegrini in the attacking midfield. The captain of the team, who is going through a difficult time, might also get a chance to perform and get out of the rut he has put himself into.
In terms of the midfield, the Cristante–Wijnaldum pair is considered the strongest, with Dutchman Wijnaldum starting due to the fact that the match is being played at Feijenoord’s home ground. But the presence of Matic in the starting lineup also cannot be ruled out, meaning that one of the attacking midfielders would be sacrificed. There is also a competition for the wing-backs, with Celik being preferred over Zalewski on the right, while the poles may be redirected to the left giving a rest to Spinazzola, who has been playing seven consecutive matches in the Serie A. In defense, there could be a return of Llorente instead of Ibanez, but it is difficult to see past the competent display put up by the Brazilian against Feyenoord. This news was reported by Il Messaggero.