José Mourinho was unveiled as the new Roma coach today and the Special One didn’t hold back when it came to teasing his former clubs Tottenham, Manchester United and even Inter.

Mourinho has signed a three-year deal with the Giallorossi and was unveiled in a press conference on Thursday, ahead of Roma’s first training session of the season.

The Special One insisted Roma owners Dan and Ryan Friedkin don’t want ‘immediate success’ but hired him to begin a project that would see Roma win a piece of silverware in a few years.

Mourinho’s press conference lasted more than one hour and touched on many issues, including the replacement of Leonardo Spinazzola and the management of Nicolò Zaniolo.

The 58-year-old thanked Roma fans for the warm welcome at the club and hit back at those who had claimed he is not the same one he used to be.

Former Lazio star Paolo Di Canio was one of those, although the journalist asking the question to Mourinho did not mention the ex-Italian striker.

“I have nothing to say. In my last three clubs, I won the title at Chelsea, three cups at United, and I reached a Final at Tottenham, where we arrived sixth starting from 12th, reaching the Europa League. What’s considered a disaster for me it’s something that others have never achieved, it’s my fault,” Mourinho said.

“I won three trophies at Manchester United and that was seen as a disaster. I reached a cup Final which I was not allowed to play at Tottenham, and that was seen as a disaster too. What’s a disaster for me is considered a great success for others.”

He also discussed the All or Nothing series, which was shot when he was appointed Tottenham coach. Does it reflect his true self?

“I haven’t seen it, but yes. Because we were natural,” Mourinho admitted.

Mourinho’s first full press conference: ‘Why I joined Roma’

“The cameras were there, but they were hidden. You think about them for the first week or two, but after that, not as much.

“Imagine after a game you arrive in the dressing room and you act naturally, you forget there are cameras, but please don’t give ideas to Friedkin Production,” he said with a smile on his face.

There wasn’t quite the same smile when he was compared to Antonio Conte for their achievements at Inter.

“There are some coaches in the clubs’ history that you should never compare to others. For this club, don’t compare Capello or Liedholm to other coaches.

“For Inter, never compare others to Herrera or me, because you just can’t do that,” he said.

Mourinho won the treble at Inter in 2009-10, but that didn’t prevent him from aiming a dig at his former club, who are reported to be in financial trouble after the COVID pandemic and had struggled to pay the salaries during 2020-21.

“You always talk about titles, we talk about the project and work. It would be easy to promise a title, but the reality is different,” Mourinho said.

“We talk about the project and about improving. You talk about titles, we talk about projects. The owners don’t want an isolated success, they want to get there and stay there, which is more difficult.

“It’s easy to win and have no money to pay salaries, but we want to be sustainable and the club and I share the same view.”

Last but not least, Mourinho was asked if Cristiano Ronaldo should be worried about his return to Italy.

“No, because I am not playing at centre-back. Had I played centre-back, I’d hit him, but unfortunately, I am not good enough and I am too old to play against him,” Mourinho replied, smiling.

 

 

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