Jose Mourinho explains the ‘fundamental difference’ between Roma and Atalanta going into tomorrow’s clash, but hopes to follow in Gian Piero Gasperini’s footsteps by building a long-term ‘project.’
It kicks off on Saturday at 14.00 GMT.
When asked about the very different approaches to their football taken by defend and counter specialist Mourinho and possession-based attack-minded Gasperini, the Portuguese coach was a little riled.
“There is a fundamental difference between me and Gasperini: he has been working at Atalanta for six years, I’ve been at Roma for six months,” replied Mou in his press conference.
“That doesn’t just mean many training sessions, but also 12 transfer windows against one. Atalanta are a fantastic club, very stable, I knew them as a mid-table team, but now they are regularly in the Champions League and challenging to win the Scudetto.
“We are under new owners who in my view are doing a fantastic job, having been forced to do reactive work on the transfer market this summer. I spent many years at clubs with a totally different mentality, all about today and not building for tomorrow.
“There is a significant difference between the two clubs, but there is also one thing I have no doubts on: we can win. Football is football and we have talented players, a fantastic team spirit and we are going there looking to win.
“If you ask me to stay home if I am guaranteed a draw in Bergamo, I won’t accept it. I want to challenge myself against Atalanta, with respect and admiration for their work.”
Chris Smalling is available after an injury scare, while Gianluca Mancini and Nicolò Zaniolo return from suspension, but Roger Ibanez is in doubt.
Mourinho was asked essentially what the aim is for Roma this season, a top four finish or Europa League spot, and kept his response vague.
“When an objective is in the long-term, empathy is fundamental. You cannot live with someone for four, five or six years without empathy. You might live with them for a year, get the result and then leave, but here we feel this fantastic atmosphere and it gives us all an enormous sense of calm around the project.”
And Atalanta will always be mid-table team.
They’re just having their moments.
While Gasperini retired and they lost some of their best players, Atalanta will be back to where they belong