Jose Mourinho discusses his Roma future, reintegrating Rick Karsdorp, congratulating Napoli for ‘already winning the Scudetto’ and reveals he tried to sign Kim Min-jae at Tottenham Hotspur.
It kicks off on Sunday at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona at 19.45 GMT.
The focus of the press conference was naturally on the Nicolò Zaniolo controversy and you can read Mourinho’s comments on that situation here.
Meanwhile, this is a massive game for their season against the Serie A leaders who are 12 points clear of the chasing pack at the midway stage.
“I say Napoli have already won the Scudetto, deservedly, so I congratulate them. They are an excellent team with a great coach, sit 12 points clear with nobody who can frighten them. The Scudetto is theirs,” said Mourinho.
“If you ask me will Roma get out of their way, I say no, we go there trying to get a result, but that doesn’t change the fact they have already won the Scudetto.”
Mourinho has been in Italy long enough to know the Neapolitans are traditionally very superstitious and will hate hearing that the title is already locked down, especially with so long to go in the season, so this was something of a mind game from the Special One.
He also revealed some of his admiration for Napoli defender Kim Min-jae goes back a long way.
“I wanted to sign Kim at Tottenham, but the club did not help me out on that.”
Surprisingly, Mou dictated the starting XI to the reporters, confirming Nicola Zalewski and Leonardo Spinazzola on the wings, with Bryan Cristante and Nemanja Matic in the middle, then Lorenzo Pellegrini and Paulo Dybala supporting Tammy Abraham.
Zaniolo is not the only tense situation at Roma, as Rick Karsdorp is also frozen out following a row with Mourinho, while Eldor Shomurodov is on the verge of a loan move to Spezia.
“Karsdorp is frozen out for as long as he wants to be. It doesn’t take much to change the situation. Someone lied about what happened, giving a bad impression of me and the club that we did not deserve. It’s up to Rick.”
Mourinho and Roma were condemned by FIFPro for the exclusion and public criticism of Karsdorp, who has so far been unable to find another club.
There were also reports this week that Chris Smalling is pushing for the exit, as his contract is due to expire in June and he has been linked with Inter.
“The point is that he is playing very, very well, showing that he is concentrated only on Roma and very professional. The situation is open, I have not spoken to him about it. My personal belief is that he wants to stay. The club understands his importance. An agreement can be found and I think he is more likely to remain than to leave.
“Roma need Chris and I do not see Chris doing better anywhere else. They must reach an agreement.”
Mourinho was also asked about his own future, considering the on-going links with a return to the Premier League.
“I understand the question, but that is not for me, it is for the club. When I was young, I was able to discuss internal matters with the press, but maturity helps you to be more balanced and less egotistical,” said the man who turned 60 this week.
“The FFP situation is clear, we all have a complete vision of Roma’s limitations. I don’t expect anyone else to arrive, we go like this to the end.
“I would like to say that I didn’t understand why some say I want the Premier League and others say the Premier League wants me. I don’t want anything, I just take it one day at a time. When the club wants to talk to me, I am here, always.
“I am thinking only of Roma, not of my future.”