José Mourinho expects to discuss his Roma future before June and insists the club ‘know what to expect’ from him.
The Portuguese coach has a contract until 2024 at the Stadio Olimpico, but multiple sources in Italy claim he will remain until the end of his deal only if he is guaranteed adequate investments to strengthen the team next summer.
Sky Sport Italia asked for updates about his future on the eve of Thursday’s Europa League meeting with RB Salzburg.
“It’s mid-February, do you think the club will talk to me in June? I guess it would be too late,” said Mourinho.
“I don’t expect anything, they know what they can expect from me.”
Mourinho has recently claimed that he had the chance to leave Roma in December and confirmed today that the Portuguese federation had approached him to replace Fernando Santos after the World Cup.
The Giallorossi play the first leg of the Europa League play-off in Austria tomorrow, visiting RB Salzburg.
“In terms of commitment and philosophy, I don’t think there are similar teams in Serie A,” Mourinho said at a press conference.
“We’ve studied the team, but you never really know until you play. Champions League games are a good reference for us.
“They have players who are 21 or 22 years old, but with 10 or 15 Champions League games under their belt.”
The Special One insisted that Roma’s priority is the next game, so he will not rotate much.
“Tomorrow’s game is the most important. We want to win tomorrow and we can’t look beyond the next match. There are still 24 clubs in the competition, we are far from the end. I could use the same line-up [as last week], there could be one or two changes, not more.
“Abraham will play, Wijnaldum won’t start, he is training consistently and the stats are good, but games are not like training.”
Finally, Mourinho opened up about his relationship with Rick Karsdorp who has been called up for tomorrow’s match.
“We have always had a positive relationship. We only had an issue at Sassuolo, but the word I used to address him was too heavy. Everyone in the dressing room has always loved him. I’m glad he’s with us.”