Mourinho: ‘I am not the problem at Roma’

Jose Mourinho reveals he turned down ‘the largest provide’ in soccer to maintain his phrase with Roma. ‘Three months in the past, it appeared a tragedy I’d go away. I’m not the issue now.’

The match with Frosinone kicks off on Sunday at 19.45 UK time (18.45 GMT).

Renato Sanches, Tammy Abraham and Marash Kumbulla are nonetheless out of motion, whereas Diego Llorente pulled up throughout Thursday’s 4-1 defeat to Genoa.

Chris Smalling can also be nonetheless on the remedy desk and should be evaluated.

That outcome left them nearer to the relegation zone than Europe, the worst begin to a season in Mourinho’s total membership profession.

“We wish to win and we should win. We should not hunt down any extra alibis,” mentioned Mourinho in the beginning of his press convention.

“I believe having one level from the primary three video games was a weight on the shoulders of many gamers. I assumed that after the wins over Empoli and Sheriff, we might take that weight off, however that’s not what occurred.

“In any regular situation, a draw away to Torino could be a optimistic outcome. I anticipated consistency and extra towards Genoa, however that didn’t occur.”

On the closing whistle, Mourinho and the whole Roma squad went over to the away part to obtain the insults and name to motion from the followers.

“Now find out how to we get again on observe? To begin with, we will need to have the braveness to step onto the sector tomorrow, have the braveness to simply accept a response of nice Romanism from the followers that may be of help or a manifestation of discontent.

“We will need to have respect for that manifestation, optimistic or adverse, and have respect for Frosinone.”

Mourinho is into the third and closing season of his Roma contract, so with out mentioning the rumoured third season syndrome, he was requested if a brand new deal was provided, could be settle for it?

“I don’t like speaking about hypothetical conditions. If it hasn’t occurred, then I can not reply that. What I can say is that three months in the past, in Budapest, individuals acted prefer it was nearly a tragedy I might go away.

“I advised the gamers in Budapest that I might stay, two days later we performed towards Spezia, I acquired again on the sector and advised the followers I used to be staying right here. Then two or three days later, I met with Dan Friedkin and gave him my phrase that I might keep.

“In the course of the summer season, I had the largest, craziest provide of labor {that a} coach has ever had within the historical past of soccer and I turned it down as a result of I gave my phrase to my gamers, to Friedkin and to the followers.

“Three months later, it appears as if I’m an issue, however I gained’t settle for that. I don’t learn papers or watch TV, however my pals inform me that is what’s being mentioned. I’m not the issue. Issues have many components. You can not say one particular person is liable for victories both. All of us are.

“I gave my phrase and can respect it till June 30, 2024. I’m right here to battle each day for the gamers, the membership house owners and the followers, Just one particular person can inform me it’s over earlier than June 30 and that’s Mr Friedkin. If he doesn’t inform me that, then I’m right here till June 30.

“Tomorrow I’ve no worry of stepping out onto that discipline and being the topic of protests.”

The matter of the third season curse was again within the headlines this week, however the Particular One rejects it.

“I don’t see it that approach, I believe if an individual is joyful, he doesn’t change, it doesn’t matter if it’s the third, fifth or 10^th yr. There are issues within the first too, should you speak about human relationships then we could be pals even after 50 years.

“I believe while you not really feel that love, you must say sufficient is sufficient. Generally you might be drained even when it’s a rapport with out issues. There are coaches at golf equipment like Manchester Metropolis who will pay €100m for a brand new participant with out batting an eyelid.

“I believe it’s not about time, however a rapport that both is there or isn’t, and in my case it’s right here. I don’t wish to return to the query in regards to the hypothetical renewal, however I like coming to work each day and I can not say I had a membership the place I loved it greater than anyplace else.”

Mourinho additionally feedback on the rising harm record and factors to the inevitability of those issues in a packed fixture record with a small squad.

“Tiago Pinto defined how Roma should work inside Monetary Honest Play, take sure selections and know that they’re dangerous. With Smalling out, there have been solely three defenders throughout a interval with a recreation each three days and Llorente’s harm was predictable along with his historical past.

“As I mentioned earlier than, this isn’t the second to seek out alibis or apportion blame, this can be a consequence of Monetary Honest Play, it’s a state of affairs I already knew might occur.”

Mourinho was requested if he expects extra from his gamers.

“Sure, I additionally anticipate extra from myself, as I’m very demanding. While you concede two targets from set performs, I prepare on these conditions, however I didn’t say to go away Lukaku on the road by himself. I anticipate extra from everybody.

“There’s empathy with these lads, they’re my pals and I’m their pal. That’s the type of bond that’s priceless in these moments. A coach is all the time alone in troublesome conditions, however not with them. I prefer to be alone, to cover away and isolate myself at occasions, however with my gamers I by no means felt alone.

“I anticipate extra of a mentality, starvation and duty. It’s simpler to say if you end up with pals, I would like extra.”

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