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TIRANA, ALBANIA – MAY 25: Jose Mourinho, Head Coach of AS Roma celebrates with the UEFA Europa Conference League Trophy after their sides victory in the UEFA Conference League final match between AS Roma and Feyenoord at Arena Kombetare on May 25, 2022 in Tirana, Albania. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)
José Mourinho says Roma is the ‘best place’ where he’s been in his coaching career, admits he didn’t expect Cristian Chivu to become a coach and insists that preferring the playing style over results is ‘the biggest lie in football.’
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Former Inter and Roma coach Mourinho was full of praise for the Giallorossi and his ex-player Chivu, now the Nerazzurri boss, in his latest interview with Il Giornale (via Gazzetta).
Mourinho’s latest interview on Roma, Inter and Real Madrid speculation
Mourinho spent two and a half seasons at the Stadio Olimpico, winning the Conference League in 2022 and losing the Europa League Final in 2023. Just a few months later, in January 2024, he was sacked with just six months left on his contract.
“For me, it’s been the best place in my career. I’ve never felt such an incredible environment around a football team. The Olimpico was always full,” Mourinho said.
Mourinho was asked whether the pressure around the team in the capital is what makes it so hard for the Giallorossi to win trophies.
“It’s not a drama because when we won the Conference League, the celebrations were amazing,” he replied.
“Not even when I won the Champions League did I see scenes like those.
“My Roma is finished. I don’t want to say anything else. Actually, just one thing. Nobody should blame the Roma fans for not winning. The Roma fans are the ones who support the team, and nobody should touch them.”
Chivu’s Inter will win the Serie A title if they beat Parma on Sunday night. Chivu played under Mourinho at Inter, winning a legendary treble in 2009-10.
“I’m happy for Chivu that Inter can win the Scudetto, even if, when I was his coach, I’d never thought he would become a coach,” Mourinho admitted.
“He didn’t seem predestined, but he was smart. He has studied and has built experience. Many go on the bench today because they sell themselves well. And let’s be honest: this idea that the style of play matters more than results is the biggest lie in football.
“I haven’t messaged Chivu yet because it’s not mathematically certain. Let’s let him earn the points he needs, and when it happens, I’ll reach out.”
The members of that Inter team are still in contact thanks to a WhatsApp chat: “I’m terrible with my phone, but Materazzi is the one in charge of that,” Mou admitted.
Lastly, Mou was asked about rumours of his return to Atletico Madrid, but he replied: “My next target is to bring Benfica back to the Champions League.”
- More from Mourinho’s interview – Mourinho defends Italy despite refereeing scandal: ‘You don’t need a foreign coach, go with M&M’
ByLorenzo Bettoni
Lorenzo Bettoni is the Editor of Football Italia.
