Former Roma midfielder Daniele De Rossi said he wouldn’t want to be in coach Jose Mourinho’s shoes and warned them of ‘chasing him up the wall too’.
Mourinho’s honeymoon period is over at the Giallorossi, who are going through a difficult spell after a great start to life under the Portuguese tactician.
A run of one win in seven games – including the embarrassing 6-1 defeat to Bodo/Glimt in the Europa League – has rocked the club from the capital in recent weeks and the 3-2 defeat to Venezia ahead of the international break didn’t help ease the pressure.
Reports in Italy claims Mourinho has destabilised the dressing room after the recent results and rumours have emerged regarding a tense relationship between sporting director Tiago Pinto and the current coach.
But the World Cup winner warned his former team and stressed he doesn’t want to be in Mourinho’s shoes right now.
“Roma will be satisfied at the end of the season if they haven’t managed to drive Mourinho up to the wall too,” De Rossi said. “He is one of the strongest coaches around. Beyond the aesthetic fact, the Special One is one of the strongest five-six coaches ever,” De Rossi told Sky Sport Italia.
“I have Roma in my heart, but it’s better to watch from the outside right now, I wouldn’t want to put myself in Mourinho’s shoes.”
De Rossi worked with Italy CT Roberto Mancini at EURO 2020 and was asked about midfielder Jorginho’s penalty miss against Switzerland on Friday.
It was the Chelsea star’s third consecutive miss for Italy and De Rossi was asked if Mancini should change penalty taker.
“I don’t know, Mancini will take care of managing everything flawlessly,” De Rossi said. “Jorginho is essential, the last penalties didn’t go well but that’s things to settle in the dressing room.
“[Francesco] Totti missed three or four in one year, the penalty takers continue beyond these things.”
De Rossi also spoke about the Scudetto battle, adding: “Napoli and Milan seem to be doing better than the others.
“Napoli did well with [Gennaro] Gattuso and are doing equally well with [Luciano] Spalletti.
“I think they will all be back in the race even if Roma, Inter, Lazio and Juventus are detached right now.”
De Rossi: ‘Roma, attenta a non far stufare Mourinho. Rigore di Jorginho? Anche Totti ne sbagliava’ https://t.co/PhtlxKDDuv pic.twitter.com/N9LM0ojomT
— calciomercato.com (@cmdotcom) November 13, 2021
mourinho is the master, no touch