Abraham: ‘Mourinho important, I’m at Roma to win trophies’

Tammy Abraham revealed his talk with Roma coach Jose Mourinho was ‘important’ to convince him of joining the club and stressed he has arrived at the Giallorossi to ‘win trophies’.

The former Chelsea striker arrived ahead of the new season and has already made an impact in the Roma attack.

Abraham made a sensational debut with two assists against Fiorentina and helped the club qualify for the Europa Conference League with a 3-0 win over Trabzonspor on Thursday.

The Chelsea striker admitted his talks with sporting director Tiago Pinto and coach Mourinho helped convince him to join La Lupa.

“In the last year at Chelsea, I played less than I hoped for,” Abraham said at a press conference. “It was important to talk to Mourinho.

“I talked to Mourinho and Tiago Pinto explained the club’s ambition to me. I arrived at Roma not only to score goals, but above all to win trophies and we hope to be able to do so already this year.

“The Conference is a complicated trophy, but we will try.”

Abraham was asked if he prefers to play alone up front or if he can partner Eldor Shomurodov.

“To tell the truth, I wasn’t born an attacker. I started at right wing. I’m used to covering multiple roles and playing in different formations,” he continued.

“I didn’t play as a centre forward; it depends on the coach’s decision.”

Abraham realised Serie A is more tactical and claims the championship in Italy is ‘more balanced’.

“Watching the Italian teams play, you realise that it’s a tactical football,” he said. “The teams defend well.

“They are always well placed on the pitch. In the Premier League there are the big teams that always dominate when they play against the small ones, in Italy it’s more balanced.

“Here they are all good and prepared.”

Abraham explained former Chelsea coach Mourinho wasn’t the only thing that convinced him.

“I want to say that I’m not only here for Jose, his presence was important but I have always followed Roma,” Abraham continued. “I had the privilege of sharing the dressing room at Chelsea with [Emerson] Palmieri and [Antonio] Rüdiger.

“Tony spoke very well about Roma. Mourinho is also a winner and has characteristics I see myself in.”

The young English forward has been brought in to replace Edin Dzeko at the Olimpico.

“I’m focused on my football. I have always tried to help the team I represent,” he said. “When Roma showed up, I shifted my focus.

“I will wear Dzeko’s shirt number, I always followed him on TV during my childhood. Hats off for what he did here, now it’s my turn to fill the gap and it’s a great responsibility.

“But I have faith in my abilities. [Romelu] Lukaku went the opposite way, he returned to London. But he’s a great player. I’m still young, for me, this is an important step.”

The new striker said his welcome in the Italian capital has been remarkable.

“I must say that since I arrived, the fans have been extraordinary, as have my teammates and this made me feel at home,” he added.

“We have come from a long period of COVID and I really wanted to play well and offer a good performance for the fans.

“I’m a person who when I arrive in a team, I love to sweat for that shirt and leave my blood.”

With Lukaku returning to Chelsea after seven years, Abraham was asked if his chapter with the Blues has been closed.

“I’m not a person who looks at these things or who focuses on the Chelsea choices that Lukaku took,” he said.

“My focus is not to prove they were wrong and then come back one day. I wanted to get out of my comfort zone. I wanted to get to know a new culture and new football ideas. Staying in England would have been easy, but I preferred to fly elsewhere.”