Bologna coach Sinisa Mihajlovic praised Roma tactician Jose Mourinho ahead of the big game at the Renato Dall’Ara on Wednesday. ‘He was close to me during my illness, and I will never forget this’.

The two teams clash in the 15th round of fixtures and Mihajlovic admitted the two had a ‘quarrel’ earlier in their careers but have since cleared the air and ‘remained friends’.

Mihajlovic, who went through two cycles of chemotherapy and a bone marrow transplant during his battle against and aggressive form of leukemia.

Mihajlovic: ‘Destiny I should get leukaemia in Bologna’

The Serbian coach revealed Mourinho was ‘always close’ during his toughest moments and praised the Portuguese tactician ahead of their meeting tomorrow.

“He’s a great coach and a great person,” Mihajlovic said at a press conference. “He wrote me when I became a grandfather, telling me that he can’t wait for it to happen to him, and I replied there’s always time: I’m very happy to see him.

“I almost always liked him, only at the beginning we quarrelled.”

The quarrel he referred to happened during Catania vs. Inter. Mihajlovic recalled: “Once he said something against me and I replied that I couldn’t speak to someone who had never played football at a high level.

“In the end, however, we clarified and remained friends. Mourinho has always been close to me, even during my illness and I don’t forget this.

“We come from two countries where being cunning and loyal are the main character of the people, so there’s something in common.”

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