Jose Mourinho explains some of his choices as Roma get the better of Juventus, acknowledging he has ‘a good rapport’ with Max Allegri. ‘We often message each other.’
The pressure was on the Giallorossi after their surprise 2-1 defeat to rock bottom Cremonese, but they managed to surge into joint fourth place alongside Milan with this 1-0 result.
“I am still sad if I think back to Cremona and that is difficult to accept,” Mourinho told DAZN.
“When we play as a team and the players give their all, we can bring home the result. I am happy for this victory, but I am still not over the performance in Cremona.”
It took a moment of magic to break through, Gianluca Mancini unleashing a right-foot scorcher from outside the box into the far bottom corner.
Luck was also on their side, as Juve rattled the frame of the goal three times this evening.
Mourinho’s choices raised some eyebrows, using Gini Wijnaldum upfront with Paulo Dybala and Lorenzo Pellegrini in support.
“Roma won because the players were better and gave 100 per cent. I don’t want to say that tactical organisation allowed us to win the game, the game was won with the attitude of the players.
“I respect Allegri and his players, they are talented and in their best form of the season. When they build the wall, we are not a team who score many goals, so the important thing was to keep the ball and not allow them to build intensity. When they counter, it is difficult for us, but we defended well and Rui Patricio performed a few miracles too.
“This is important, because when you are playing against Juve, the goalkeeper has to have a great night.”
Mourinho was originally suspended for this match, but won his emergency appeal to delay the two-match ban pending further investigation into his touchline row with fourth official Marco Serra.
“I don’t expect anything. There is an investigation on-going and I respect that, I don’t want to say anything. I just repeat that all I want is to be allowed to do my work in peace.”
Despite his long-standing animosity with Juventus, the Special One assures he is on very good terms with Allegri.
“We often message each other, we’ve had a good rapport for years and joke around via text message or via mutual friends. I respect his sadness now, but I can say I really like his team and am very happy to be this far away from them, because even with a 15-point penalty, Juve are a side who can get six or seven wins on the trot. This is a great team.
Roma are now in joint fourth place with Milan, but Mourinho warns you can never be on solid ground with his men.
“The problem is that you never know when Roma will get a result. We are aware of our limitations and try to hide them. If we are not at 100 per cent, then we will suffer. In isolated matches, we can bring home the result, even against the top teams, but over the course of a season is more difficult.”
The focus now turns to Thursday and the Europa League showdown with Real Sociedad in the Round of 16.
“The level of the Conference League last season was higher than the tournament this year, as we played Feyenoord and Leicester City. If you look at the Europa League this season, it looks like the Champions League. However, we keep taking it one game at a time and see what we can do.”