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Tag: Roma

  • Mourinho ‘rants’ after Roma’s derby defeat

    Mourinho ‘rants’ after Roma’s derby defeat

    Jose Mourinho bemoaned Paulo Dybala’s absence after Roma slipped to a 1-0 derby defeat against Lazio on Sunday.

    The Portuguese however revealed his hope that the Argentina international would return before the Qatar World Cup which will kick off on Nov. 20.

    Felipe Anderson capitalised on an error from Roger Ibanez as Maurizio Sarri’s team clinched a crucial win over their arch rivals, moving to third in the Serie A table.

    While Lazio were without influential duo Sergej Milinkovic-Savic and Ciro Immobile at the Stadio Olimpico, Roma only managed two shots on target.

    They toiled in the absence of Dybala —- their top goalscorer with five league goals this season.

    “We talked about Milinkovic-Savic and Immobile, we didn’t talk about Dybala,” Mourinho said at a post-match news conference.

    “I think he is more important, because he’s the one that assists us with goals. When certain players are missing, we go into difficulty.”

    Dybala has been absent since Oct. 9 after sustaining a hamstring injury.

    But Mourinho hopes he will return against Torino next Sunday, in what would also be a boost for Argentina ahead of their trip to Qatar.

    “Obviously he wants to go to the World Cup, it is difficult to say no to that,” Mourinho said.

    “If there is a good evolution of his injury, we hope to have him back on Sunday against Torino.”

    Roma have suffered narrow defeats to several of Serie A’s leading lights recently, but Mourinho believes they have not always got what they deserved.

    Asked about the Giallorossi’s poor record against top opponents, Mourinho added: “Roma lost those games, in my opinion, undeservedly.

    “Atalanta made one shot on goal and won 1-0, Napoli had difficulties like never before and won with a great goal from [Victor] Osimhen, and Lazio won with a half-goal.

    “I think the game they played was the consequence of being 1-0 up, in a low block, compact.

    “In our cultures, it is said that this was a cynical, intelligent game. In England, people would go home after 20 minutes.

    “The playing time was definitely very low, the intensity and continuity of the game was very low. We dominated, but there was a lack of creativity.”

  • I was very close to leaving Arsenal – Granit Xhaka

    I was very close to leaving Arsenal – Granit Xhaka

    Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka has admitted he was close to leaving the North London club last year.

    The midfielder is being celebrated this season and proved the matchwinner in victory over Europa League opponents PSV Eindhoven.

    In the summer of 2021, he was on his way when Roma pushed for a deal. Xhaka now admits that a move was imminent.

    “I was very, very close (to leaving Arsenal). And when I say very, very close… it was like you have the stuff here and I just had to take it and leave the door,” Xhaka told the BBC’s Football Focus.

    “At that moment, you don’t see anyone around you. This is the biggest problem. You sit in a dark place and feel alone.”

  • Mourinho can be hard to work with if… – Matic

    Mourinho can be hard to work with if… – Matic

    Roma midfielder Nemanja Matic appreciates his relationship with coach Jose Mourinho.

    Matic worked with Mourinho also at Chelsea and Manchester United.

    He told The Times: “Everyone is agreed that he is one of the best managers in the history of football.

    “My personal relationship with him is great but, if you ask me why, I don’t know. I never ask for anything special from him and he can be a very hard guy to work with if you don’t have good results because he always wants to win.

    “He puts a lot of pressure on himself, the players and the staff. If you don’t win, you’re in big trouble.”

  • TRENDING: Jose Mourinho stars in Stormzy’s new music video [Watch]

    TRENDING: Jose Mourinho stars in Stormzy’s new music video [Watch]

    Roma manager, Jose Mourinho made a surprise appearance in a new music video by UK rapper, Stormzy.

    The rapper dropped a video for his new track ‘Mel Made Me Do It’ on YouTube on Thursday.

    The ex-Manchester United and Chelsea boss appears with Stormzy and his crew in a cameo during the 10-minute video, while the artist delivers the line: “They love to talk about the old days, the man are old like ‘Annie, are you OK?’, I prefer not to speak like I’m Jose.”

    Audio follows of one of Mourinho’s most famous quotes: “I prefer really not to speak. If I speak, I am in big trouble.”

    Watch video:

  • Jose Mourinho gives hint on retirement plan

    Jose Mourinho gives hint on retirement plan

    Roma coach Jose Mourinho says he still has the hunger for success.

    Mourinho was speaking at the Quinas de Ouro event in Portugal.

    He stated, “Last season we did what no one expected, this year we’ll try to do better. We don’t have the same economic potential as our rivals.

    “We had a €7m transfer market, but we have quality, passion, many people who like to work together, which is an important thing, and then at the end of the season we will see.

    “These 22 years have passed quickly, but I want to continue. I feel good, I feel strong, motivated, I like winning, I hate losing, nothing has changed.

    “The colour of my hair, yes, even the wrinkles, but I want to go on. Not for another 22 years, as there is no time, but for a few more years.”

  • Serie A: Roma move did me good – Dybala

    Serie A: Roma move did me good – Dybala

    Roma striker Paulo Dybala admits moving to Roma was the right choice because he didn’t enjoy his final years at Juventus.

    Dybala is rediscovering his best form with the Giallorossi.

    He said, “Yes, the last few years at Juventus weren’t easy, a change did me good. (Jose) Mourinho called me and in a few minutes, I decided. He as well as the director spoke to me about the project and the desire to continue winning as they did last year.

    “Being a protagonist in such a team helps me a lot. The fans’ welcome? It was unusual. When you enter the stadium you’re with your teammates, there I was alone. It had never happened to me before.

    “Roma fans are similar to Argentinian fans in terms of passion. Different from the Juventus environment, more like the Argentinean one.

    “They have a beautiful madness, I feel this affection, for them Roma comes before the family. They live football as we do.”

  • They told me Zaniolo was a disaster – Mourinho

    They told me Zaniolo was a disaster – Mourinho

    AS Roma coach Jose Mourinho admits he feared losing Nicolo Zaniolo over the summer.

    The midfielder laid on two assists for their Europa League win at HJK Helsinski last night.

    Asked if he was worried Zaniolo could be leaving before the summer market shut, Mourinho said: “The director (Tiago Pinto) never came to me to say: ‘this possibility exists’. Never. You read so many things, especially in the summer.

    “I knew he was an important player for us, with different qualities than the others. He’s the only one with this physical potential. Yes, I was a little scared. Not so much because the manager never said there were possibilities.

    “He’s a good guy, they told me he was a disaster as a professional. Either it was lies or he changed. Never saw him arrive late, never problems.”

  • ​Arsenal midfielder reveals talks with Jose Mourinho

    ​Arsenal midfielder reveals talks with Jose Mourinho

    Arsenal midfielder Lucas Torreira has admitted that he is interested in a move to Roma.

    The defensive midfielder is likely to leave the club permanently this summer, after spending last season on loan at Fiorentina.

    Torreira had expected to rejoin La Viola this summer, but the move broke down at the last moment.

    Roma boss José Mourinho, who has already signed Nemanja Matic this summer, may also be looking at Torreira to bolster his midfield.

    Speaking to El Pais, Torreira said: “I spoke with Mourinho some time ago. He’s a coach I admire, it’s a possibility that entices me, but it’s not easy.”

    For their part, Arsenal are happy to sell the Uruguayan, as he does not fit into manager Mikel Arteta’s plans.

  • Inter Milan sign on Mkhitaryan from AS Roma

    Inter Milan have signed former Borussia Dortmund attacker Henrikh Mkhitaryan from league rivals AS Roma, the Italian Serie A runners-up confirmed on Saturday.

    The 33-year-old Armenian Mkhitaryan has signed a two-year deal to 2024, according to media reports, after leaving Europa Conference League champions Roma on a free transfer.

    Mkhitaryan played from 2013 to 2016 for Borussia Dortmund and joined AS Roma in 2019 after spells with Arsenal and Manchester United.

    He is Inter Milan’s second addition to their front line this close season after the loan signing of their former star Romelu Lukaku from Chelsea.

  • Mourinho sends Maitland-Niles back to Arsenal

    Mourinho sends Maitland-Niles back to Arsenal

    Arsenal midfielder Ainsley Maitland-Niles is returning from his loan at Roma.

    The 24-year-old was unable to force his way into Mourinho’s starting XI and made only 12 appearances for the Serie A team in all competitions.

    Maitland Niles joined Roma on loan in January after struggling for game time under Mikel Arteta at Arsenal.

    It had been suggested in January that the loan to Roma offered a potential path to a permanent move for the Englishman.

    However, the two clubs will not negotiate a deal and Maitland-Niles will return to north London.

    Maitland-Niles posted on his Instagram account, alongside a picture of him holding the Europa Conference League trophy: “Great way to end the season.

    “Thank you to the Roma fans, players, and staff for believing in me as one of their own for the short period of time spent at the club.

    “What [an] experience and to be a part of history with the club.”