Jose Mourinho protests against the Serie A fixture list and warns Roma that it is ‘always better to win than to play well’ as they visit Genoa this evening.
It kicks off at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris, also known as Marassi, at 19.45 UK time (18.45 GMT).
Mourinho started his interview with DAZN protesting yet again about the fixture list, as Roma are made to play on Thursday in this midweek round.
“These are three games in a row, we won two and drew the other, drawing while playing very well. Obviously, I don’t like to talk about or think about it, but we are again playing a team that had an extra 48 hours to prepare,” said the coach.
“However, we didn’t think about that, we focused on improving individually and as a team. We must try to win the game against a tough side. It is in theory, but when we look at their line-up it seems more defensive than their usual approach.”
Roma have just one Serie A victory this season, demolishing Empoli 7-0, and that was a glimpse of the potential this team has.
They also won 2-1 away to Sheriff Tiraspol in the Europa League, but injuries have again been piling up.
“The result is always important. I always say it is better to win than to play well, but the truth is that it is easier to win if you also play well.”
Lorenzo Pellegrini returns to captain the team and play in the trequartista role with Paulo Dybala in support of Romelu Lukaku. Is this the best version of Roma?
“I don’t know, it depends on the game and the performance. When we are all in good shape, we have a great set of strikers up there. We have Lukaku, Belotti, Dybala, Azmoun, Pellegrini, they have real quality.”
Yes “special one”…but Roma can do neither!