Mourinho ‘didn’t know Roma’ but taunts Lazio and referees

José Mourinho admits he didn’t know Roma and Rome before joining the Giallorossi but taunts Lazio saying they are ‘not the most important club in town’ and insists referees are the only ones in football who can ‘correct errors.’

The Special One had a long chat with Sky Sport Italia admitting that he doesn’t know whether he will be at Roma next season.

However, he said even more, starting from his arrival in the capital in 2021 when he signed a three-year deal with the Giallorossi.

“I didn’t know Roma when I came here. I played against them at Inter, while with Porto I played against not the most important club in town.”

Mourinho referred to a Europa League semi-final between his former club Porto and Lazio in 2003, won 4-1 on aggregate by the Portuguese side who went on to lift the trophy that season.

“I didn’t know Rome as a city with a footballing heart nor AS Roma,” continued Mourinho.

“I had coached three big clubs in England, Manchester [United], Chelsea and Tottenham, so I wanted to go outside England. I liked what Roma told me, the owners convinced me to come here.

“I got to know Romanism when I arrived, I’ve learned their doubts and frustrations and I’ve tried to get inside them. I’ve asked myself many questions. I’ve grown very fond of the Romanists. I like Romanism. I like the pure Romanist, I like the Romanist of the street, who goes to Trigoria in the morning just to get a picture. I like people following the team everywhere.

“When you reach two European finals and take the city with you. When you cry tears of joy with them, you become one of them, even more,” added the Roma boss.

“It’s what I feel now. It’s been natural. When I sit on the bench at the Stadio Olimpico and I look to my right [towards Curva Sud] I still get emotional. When I look behind me, I don’t like it much.”

Did he refer to the main stand?

“Yes, but it doesn’t happen in Rome only, it happens everywhere. Some go to drink champagne, others make incredible efforts. They don’t eat or don’t eat well. They share a car because they don’t have much money, while others are doctors of football.

“Football is the most popular sport in the world because you can play it even with a stone in the streets. However, it is becoming an elite sport, not in practice but for people staying behind you. Those on the left and right are really in love with football.”

Mourinho was asked if he adopts a strategy against referees given the many controversies he is often involved in.

“Which strategy? I don’t understand these things. There is no strategy,” he claimed.

“There is a group of people that works a lot. I am talking about my staff members and my players. I am a person that struggles to live with injustice. I don’t like injustice, also social injustice, everywhere. There is no strategy. In football, the only one who can correct an error is the referee. A coach can’t stop and start again. A player can’t go back in time. Referees can do it with assistants, with the fourth official and VAR. So referees have to make fewer mistakes. I struggle when I see injustice against my people, it’s my way of living.”