Jose Mourinho did not hold back his criticism of referees after a 1-1 draw with Napoli. ‘Roma demand the right to be allowed to try to win games. At times, I felt ashamed. It seemed impossible to get a positive result.’
The Giallorossi went behind after just 11 minutes through a Lorenzo Insigne penalty, which was awarded with the aid of a VAR on-field review.
The visitors also had penalty appeals waved away for Alex Meret rushing out on Nicolò Zaniolo, who was earlier booked for dissent and then went off with a sprained ankle.
Stephan El Shaarawy came off the bench and scored the equaliser in stoppages.
“I celebrated because it seemed impossible during this game to get out of here with a positive result,” Mourinho told DAZN.
“That’s not because my team did not play well, because we did and improved during the game, but I had the sensation it would be difficult, if not impossible, to leave here with a positive result.
“This is why I celebrated the point, but looking back what I saw and heard in the locker room and the reason for my celebration, it seemed impossible.
“My team was fantastic this evening. After Thursday’s match in the Conference League, this game felt like scaling Everest, but with great quality, character, incredible fitness and mental strength, we did it. We wanted more, but we achieved what was possible.”
The substitutions made a huge difference, as while Mourinho introduced attacking players including Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Luciano Spalletti took all his forwards off to defend the 1-0 lead.
“The reason Mkhitaryan plays every minute he possibly can is that he is remarkable, but another 90 minutes would’ve been beyond him today. Leicester City changed nine players in the Premier League, we cannot do that.
“My team was fantastic nonetheless, I have immense pride in these lads. There are teams challenging for the Scudetto, we are not, but we still have the right to play and try to win games. Today it seemed like we did not have that right to play in order to win this match.
“I read also something written by someone with responsibility who said the league will be decided if the referees make errors against the three challenging for the Scudetto. Well, I say the league can also be decided if errors are made in favour of the teams fighting for the Scudetto.
“It seemed impossible for us to win this game today. I don’t want to say too much, but Mr Di Paolo, not to mention Di Bello… at times, I felt ashamed to be there on that touchline.”
Mourinho was asked if there were any specific incidents that made him feel that way.
“Do you want two, three or more? I’ll give you three: red card for Zanoli, in the first half he should’ve had a second yellow in any league in the world.
“Second, the penalty not given to Zaniolo, OK the goalkeeper gets the ball first, but after that the ball is still within reach and Zaniolo is brought down. There’s a lot more, but I will stop here.
“Enough, there ought to be a little respect. Unfortunately, we didn’t do well enough during the formative period of this squad and cannot challenge for the Scudetto, but we still want the right to challenge for victory in a match.”
Does Mourinho think that right was taken away from him this evening?
“Yes.”
#NapoliRoma, lo sfogo di #Mourinho dopo la partitahttps://t.co/JmKCVlZEMP
— Gianluca Di Marzio (@DiMarzio) April 18, 2022
A great coach that his silverware and success speak for itself. Yet many still hate him and say he was done. Clearly those don’t understand football. Roma have come a long way this season.
I know Napoli and Milan fans would disagree, but referees` decisions against Roma this season are countless.
After all Italy has a bad reputation when it comes to bribery and referees 😉
Greatest manager in the league at the moment, simple as that
@Gaz Agreed. Even FI seemed to take any opportunity to criticise him early on in the season when Roma had a bad spell.
Fair play to him turning things around at Roma, most don’t come back from that…1-1 away at Napoli after conference league isn’t a bad result.
FORZA JOSE MOURINHO, always a legend no matter what media says about him.
Great result for Jose and team.
Up up we go.
He blames everyone except him
I don’t know about these incidents, but the yellow card for Zaniolo was absolutely ridiculous. They suspended him for the Inter match for nothing smh
Some dodgy decisions but if Mourinho was actually at the game, he’d have seen that Napoli were much the better team for most of it. He should be delighted with a point.
@Fatecisognare, both sides were pretty much the same, waste on many attack, while the defences yes i agree Koulibaly owned the game, pretty much the same with Smalling pocketting Osimhen. 2nd half Spalletti being chicken and play defence just like minnows and that is when he got punished.he shouldn’t have done that because roma have the capabilities to come back especially in injury time.spalletti never learn
Roma is improving and getting solid.
Positives for next season.
one of the negative sides of the Serie A is the referees.. seriously the referees are mostly awful compared to other leagues.. they are mostly jokes
Mourinho is sickening …… whenever roma does not win, all hell is let loose ….. oh what a circus, oh what a show !!!!!!
I am sure he did not behave this way in England because he would have made a fool of himself every single time …..
@ Carl
That achievement definitely goes to Pioli.
@Gordon True. Spaletti tried to shut shop too early and that just invited Roma to push up more. They were lucky to score so late on but that’s the gamble of closing ranks too soon.
@Fatecisognare agree..Still rooting Napoli for scudetto this season but Spaletti should be more fierce especially on home and while leading the game
Someone here says Mourinho is sickening because he bares his mind on issues. I honestly think that those who say or believe that Mourinho has lost it in coaching need to have an IQ examination. Someone cannot win all he has won and suddenly forget his winning ways.
The hierarchy of these clubs together with the media have been trying to rubbish his achievements, majorly because of envy and hatred for how he exhibits the kind of boldness that they don’t have.