When Everton approached Jose Mourinho to replace the dismissed Rafa Benitez, the Roma coach instantly turned down their offer. This was a smart decision.
It’s fair to say that the Merseyside club are a bit of a poisoned chalice at the moment. The Toffees have gone through five coaches in the last six years and despite significant investment by owner Farhad Moshiri, things are not looking bright for Everton.
Everton currently sit 16th in the Premier League table, only six points ahead of relegation candidates Norwich City. They just lost one of their best players, Lucas Digne, and it’s clear that there’s a fractured dressing room as well, with Benitez not being the most liked figure on Merseyside.
Mourinho’s decision to turn them down makes sense, then. The Portuguese coach is only six months into his adventure with Roma and the recent arrival of midfielder Sergio Oliveira from Porto is the latest sign that the club’s management are prepared to back him.
His Giallorossi side sit 6th in the Serie A table, only six points behind 5th place Juventus, and he is working with players he is a fan of, like Tammy Abraham. Plus, his last spell in the Premier League wasn’t particularly enjoyable, with neither Tottenham nor Manchester United fans having fond memories of the Portuguese coach’s time in charge, and so it’s hard to imagine him rushing back across the channel.
Mourinho may be experiencing some difficulties in the Italian capital following his first six months, but it’s clear that the Roma project needs a little time to heat up before the true potential of this team is seen.