Mourinho explains consequences of abolishing away goal rule

Roma coach José Mourinho believes more games will go to extra time without the away goal rule and ‘understands’ why there is no VAR in Conference League.

The Giallorossi host Trabzonspor in the Conference League play-offs on Thursday after sealing a 2-1 win in Turkey last week.

It kicks off at 6.o0 UK time at the Stadio Olimpico, while the Giallorossi face Salernitana away next Sunday.

“We are a growing team, we must develop over time. We are not in a position to think about anything else,” Mourinho said at a press conference.

“We want to try to win every game and the focus will always be on the next game. For this reason, tomorrow is now more important than Sunday and for this reason, I don’t think I’ll rotate the team much. Tomorrow is the game.”

UEFA has scrapped the away goal rule from this season and there is no VAR in Conference League, but Mourinho understands the reason behind it.

“There isn’t VAR, so we need to adapt,” he said.

“I still think their goal last week could have been off-side. At least we have goal-line technology tomorrow. I understand the difficulty at UEFA because it is a new competition with teams from countries where there are is no technology to have VAR. We have to accept this competition that has yet to develop.

“We were not lucky with the draw, but there are many opponents from countries where it is difficult to put all this. VAR will be there in the final, let’s see if we get there.

“I think more games will go to extra time, but our mind doesn’t change, we always want to win,” Mourinho continued.

“We know a draw can be useful, but we can’t think about it, unless we are in the final minutes. We must go out on the pitch to win, so our approach won’t change.”

Roma secured all three points in their Serie A opener against Fiorentina last weekend, but Mourinho believes the Giallorossi still need to develop.

“I complimented Italiano because we have been working with our new teams for less than two months.

“The same goes for many other coaches. Maybe it’s different for Inter because Inzaghi has a team that plays with closed eyes. We have a lot to do, there’s a lot of work to do for us.

“Even today, we trained on a situation that I didn’t like against Fiorentina. The lads are accustomed to another coach, that’s not a critic to Paulo, all the contrary, the next coach at Roma will face the same issues.

“There’s a lot to improve, that’s why I am happy with the win because I knew it was difficult to do better.

“We must create this empathy with fans, by playing well,” Mourinho added.

“The fans can accept a negative performance and a negative result, but there are things that are not negotiable, such as the commitment, the behaviour, the way of being professional, that’s how we must create this empathy. The relationship we have with them will be a consequence of our behaviour on the pitch.”

So far, Lorenzo Pellegrini is one of Roma’s key players, while Amadou Diawara could leave the club. The midfielder confronted a Roma fan outside Trigoria yesterday, Mourinho confirmed.

“Nothing special, it was not a physical reaction, but a reaction to some bad words,” Mourinho said.

“He [Diawara] is a player of the team, you know there is a group of players training separately, but he is not in that group, he is training with the first team. The transfer window is open, something can happen, but perhaps Diawara stays with us, if he stays, he is an option.

“He has experience and quality, he is a good person and a great professional. We have a nice relationship with him, it won’t be a problem if he stays.

“As for Pellegrini, he can do everything. Had we had three Pellegrini, they would all play. He can adapt to different roles.

“Against Fiorentina, he played on the right after Zaniolo was sent off. Lorenzo is a smart guy, he understands the game and our ideas.”