AS Roma coach defends Hummels’ waiver

AS Roma coach Ivan Juric has defended his decision not to let former soccer world champion Mats Hummels play a single minute since his move to Italy. “I’ll look at who’s in a better mood and then decide,” said the Croatian. “I don’t pay attention to age or CV. I’m just looking to see who gives me more trust.” Juric only took over the coaching position from the Italian Daniele De Rossi last month – a few days after Hummels arrived in Rome.

The 2014 world champion and former defense chief of Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund moved to the Italian first division club at the beginning of September. So far, the 35-year-old has never played in a competitive game there. Hummels himself made fun of it on Instagram. He wrote about a photo that shows him with an award for the last Champions League season with Dortmund: “More @championsleague Team of the Season trophies than minutes played so far.”

In Serie A, AS Roma is currently only in the middle of the table. The club will play against AC Fiorentina on Sunday evening.