AS Roma coach Jose Mourinho wasn't overly happy with their Europa League win at Sheriff Tiraspol.

Roma won 2-1 thanks to a deflected Leandro Paredes free-kick and Romelu Lukaku strike.

Mourinho later said: “I did not like the first half, not from the individuals, nor as a team.

“We had no control, were not working well and taking a 1-0 lead was almost a miracle. We did nothing to earn that advantage. I preferred the reaction in the second half, the goal and the chances we created too. I liked that we hid the ball from Sheriff and deserved the victory."

On Lukaku again scoring, Mourinho said: “A player with his physique needs to play, so that's why he started today. I wanted to take him off earlier, but it did him good to play longer."

Renato Sanches was forced with injury in the first-half and Mourinho added, “Both of them need playing time with tempo and intensity. Unfortunately, this is what the situation is for Sanches, he will always be at risk. It's difficult to understand. They didn't figure it out at Monaco, nor at PSG, we are struggling to understand too.

“He is a great player, seemed absolutely fine, then felt something."