Capello: Roma struggling without Matic; Lukaku not Batistuta

Former AS Roma coach Fabio Capello says his old club have missed Nemanja Matic.

Matic left for Rennes last month, leaving a big hole in Roma's midfield.

Speaking on Radio Anch'io lo Sport, Capello said: "It's surprising that Roma concede so many goals, this also depends on a player who is no longer there, Matic, who had great vision of what was happening, always positioned himself in the right way.

"In my opinion, this is one of the points that needs to be fixed, up front without Dybala's imagination it's a team that doesn't have a lot of quality. However, Roma need to find their midfield again.

"He never gives up, he knows what he is saying and where he wants to go, indeed at a certain age there is even more desire and anger to prove that he is not 'old'."

On Romelu Lukaku and Gabriel Batistuta, Capello added: “Batistuta was another player, when Lukaku receives the ball he protects it and brings the team up, he has good speed on the counterattack. He will be important when Dybala is there, but the comparison with Batistuta doesn't exist, he had rare ballistic qualities in the penalty area, both with his head and with his feet."