«If you want to talk about Allegri’s Juve or Spalletti’s Napoli, go ahead and do so. But not of the Rome by Mourinho, because I want the Rome of the Romanists. I am nobody, I am just one more ». Many have wondered: where did the Mou of the handcuffs, the noise of the enemies and the “zeru tituli” end up? And yet the phrase that seemed like an intruder in the Special One’s career is the strongest. Mourinho only wants to be a coach because he knows that there is a lot of work ahead of him. There is no time for leaders or TV stars, like al Tottenham with the series «All or Nothing». The bet is to train, work, grow. Simplicity is often the opposite of banality. It is a work to reach the heart by removing the superfluous: «The beauty of Rome is not the reason why I am here. I’m not on vacation, I won’t be a tourist ».
The 58-year-old Mou seems wiser than the one who set fire to the Italian league at 46. But he wouldn’t be Mou if he didn’t place some broadside. One is triggered by too many questions about the Rome that does not win: «You talk about titles and we talk about time, projects and work. I know the reality: Roma arrived at -29 from the Scudetto and -16 from fourth place. The first thing to do is understand why it happened, then you have to work 24 hours a day. I have a three-year contract to build a new mentality. The watchword is sustainability. The ultimate goal is to leave a legacy. You can win and then run out of money to pay salaries, but the Friedkins don’t want that. How do I see Roma in three years? I can imagine her celebrating something ».
To make him angry just tell him that his last benches have been down: «Scudetto with Chelsea, three titles with Manchester United and a final with Tottenham that they didn’t let me play. What for others would be triumphant is reproached me as a failure ». The most ferocious passage comes when he is given the names of Inter and Conte: «There are coaches who must never compare with others. In Rome, no one can be compared with Liedholm or Capello. At Inter with me or Helenio Herrera“. They are the two technicians who led the Champions Cup. The Scudetto – Mou does not say it but it is as if he did it – also came with Invernizzi and Bersellini.
On the future of Dzeko and on the captain’s armband there is pure bolt: “I’ll be unpleasant but I’ll talk about it first with the team.” Zaniolo instead serves for a tactical note: «We must find for him the natural habitat in which he expresses himself to the maximum. First I have to test the group, I will not change the one I have not yet known. I want a shared idea of football. The market? We need a left back ». The last question comes, via social media, from the fans. Did you know that if Roma were to win something in 2022 all the children will be called Josè? «No, Giuseppe!». And away, to coach the team.
July 8, 2021 (change July 8, 2021 | 20:47)
© REPRODUCTION RESERVED