Mourinho: ‘If there is a perfect example of professionalism, it is me’ 

Jose Mourinho defended his own honour in trademark fashion during his pre-match press conference on Saturday morning, insisting that ‘if there is a perfect example of professionalism, it is me.’

The Special One found himself under scrutiny following Roma’s exit from the Coppa Italia at the quarter-final stage at the hands of city rivals Lazio on Wednesday evening. 

The Giallorossi have endured a tough run of fixtures since the end of the festive period, including clashes against Juventus and Napoli in Serie A, as well as the aforementioned Lazio in the cup. Up next is a visit to San Siro to face Stefano Pioli’s Milan on Sunday. 

Mourinho began his press conference with a testimony of his own character. 

“I’ve been here for two years and five months and I’m the only person here who hasn’t missed a single training session in that time,” Mourinho said, via TMW. “For me there are no illnesses or bad moods. For two and a half years I haven’t done anything wrong, not even a couple of weeks ago when everyone was sick. 

“A few months ago, I needed a day for a situation that I don’t have to explain. I told the manager Pinto and the ownership and we decided that the day after the derby would be a good day. I was away from Rome for 15 hours. It seems ridiculous to me to justify this. 

“I do not accept in any way that my professionalism and dignity, my heart for this job, can be questioned. If there is a perfect example of professionalism, it is me. I have never missed one match in over 20 years of my career. 

Mourinho was in no mood to dwell on the defeat against Lazio in the Coppa Italia, insisting that the focus is now fully on Sunday’s game against the Rossoneri. 

“The match is over and we lost. We did some things well, some not so well. We analysed them all to improve our game. Now let’s think about the next match, Wednesday’s game is over,” he said. 

On the test against Milan, who currently find themselves in third place in Serie A, Mourinho said: “We face a team that is playing for the title, who won it two years ago. Obviously it seems that the distance in points between them and Juventus and Inter is not an easy gap to close, but it is a team that has lost some important players due to injuries. 

“It’s a team that certainly wants to win after the defeat in the cup, which was a target for them. They will put everything into this match, they know our difficulties, it seems everyone knows them. Maybe some journalists or commentators don’t know them.  Everyone knows our difficulties.”

Mourinho continued: “I know how it works in football. I know perfectly well that if a player makes a mistake, there is only one direction, the overall result, but the responsibility lies with the coach. 

“Collectively and defensively, the team was perfect. They conceded a goal , which started with our throw-in. We weren’t even capable of making a positive throw-in and it turned into a corner. And after, a penalty from an 18-year-old kid with 55 minutes in Serie A. I never said it wasn’t a penalty, I said that it is a penalty of modern times and that in modern times, refereeing is inferior in terms of protecting the game compared to how it was 20 years ago. 

“In yesterday’s meeting, I spared nothing. Then there was recovery training with six players on the pitch. It’s difficult to work and improve on the pitch like that, but the message remains the same. There are some who have to give more from an individual point of view.”

Asked how it is possible that nobody from the club has addressed the supporters following the cup defeat against Lazio, Mourinho said: “I am also the club. I am not a high-ranking official, I am a coach. But I am also the club. 

“While I am here, I consider myself to be the club, I consider my words and say what people want to hear. I always want to be loyal and act correctly in my relationship with the club. It’s not just a duty, it’s my way of being. 

“I don’t know how many derbies I’ve played, 200, 150, they are always special matches. I’ve won, I’ve drawn, I’ve lost, always with a different experience. 

“I have always understood that for a Chelsea fan, a game against Manchester City is not the same as a game against Arsenal. That for Inter, a game against Roma is not the same as a game against Juventus. I understand what a derby means. The derby we played was an important derby.” 

“The Roma fans are the most incredible I have ever seen, the coach is called Jose Harry Mourinho Potter, and he raises expectations. We are fighting a very difficult battle, but nobody will tell us we can’t fight. Against Milan, we will be there.”