Roma’s Injury Woes Continue As Mourinho Slams Referee After Draw With Monza

• Roma dealt a further blow to their top-four hopes with a 1-1 draw away at Monza
• The capital club has been hurt by injuries and lost Stephan El Shaarawy last night
• Jose Mourinho took some of his frustration out on the referee for 'poor officiating'

AS Roma's chances of qualifying for next year's UEFA Champions League via league ranking were dealt another blow last night, following a 1-1 draw against Monza.

Roma went ahead in the 24th minute but got pegged back within 15 minutes, with neither side able to find the winner in a tense affair at the newcomers' home base.

The result dropped Roma to 7th, level on points with AC Milan, who also drew at home to Cremonese. Inter Milan, who won 6-0 at Hellas Verona, moved into the top four to join Juventus, Lazio and league leaders, Napoli.

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Mourinho slams referee after draw

Roma finished the game with 10 men after right wing-back, Zeki Celik was sent off for two bookable offences within five minutes in the closing stages - first for an argument in the 90th minute and then for a foul at 90+5.

Mourinho could not hide his frustration at centre referee, Danielle Chiffi, who he called 'the worst he had met in his career' but also ceded his side did not deserve to win anyway.

"Technically, [Chiffi is] horrible and from a human point of view, he’s not empathetic, and in the end, he sent off a player who slipped because he was dead tired in the 96th minute," he told DAZN, via GIFN.

The Special One explained that was why he left the pitch early.

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"I was desperate to say some things to Chiffi, but I would’ve gotten sent off, and I didn’t want to do that to my squad."

Roma's injury woes continue

The Giallorossi have also been hit with a spate of injuries in past games, with Paulo Dybala, Georgino Wijnaldum, Chris Smalling, and Andrea Belotti now on the sidelines.

Mourinho revealed none of them had any chance of featuring against Inter Milan in their crunch clash at the weekend.

At the same time, Stephan El Shaarawy, who limped off last night, is done for the season according to Sky Italia, via Roma Press.

Mourinho bemoans Roma's depth

Sports Brief previously reported on Mourinho questioning Roma's squad depth after their Europa League win over Real Sociedad.

He compared his team's bench to Bayern Munich, who had the luxury of bringing on Serge Gnabry, Sadio Mane, and Leroy Sane off the bench.