Roma coach Jose Mourinho said he is now ‘a better coach’ than he was during his time with Inter and expects ‘gifts’ from the owners and Tiago Pinto. ‘We want to build something important’.
The Giallorossi have appointed the former Nerazzurri tactician to replace Paulo Fonseca at the Olimpico and Mourinho arrived in the Italian capital today.
The 58-year-old said he has been waiting for his first day with La Lupa and here are his first words as Roma coach.
“I’m enthusiastic from day one,” Mourinho told Roma’s official website. “And I’m sincere when I say from day one.
“When I met the owners and Tiago Pinto on the first day, I immediately had a positive feeling. And this means a lot to me.
“My enthusiasm, of course, is based on the conversations we had, on the ideas we exchanged, but also on something that I value a lot: human sensations. Empathy.
“From day one, I wanted the real first day to come, that is the day I would arrive in Rome. It was the human sensations, but also the ideas, information, questions and answers of both parties.
“After the first meeting, I had the feeling that this is not the Friedkin project, it’s not Jose Mourinho’s project, it’s not Tiago Pinto’s project, this is the AS Roma project.
“And I was struck by the fact that Mr. Friedkin and his son Ryan were constantly talking about Roma fans. They didn’t talk about them, they didn’t about the project, they talked about the fans.”
And the former Inter coach explained the project will take time, but stressed the new owners want to ‘leave a legacy’ in the Italian capital.
“I know the fans, I know the passion and if you think the project is that tomorrow I arrive and the day after tomorrow we will win, well, that’s not a project,” Mourinho added.
“Roma’s is a project with which the owners intend to leave a legacy for the years to come. He intends to do something important for the club by working on a project that is sustainable.
“He wants to create the foundation for success. I hope this success can come while I’m here. Because the contract I signed is a three-year contract.
“Maybe it’s only the first contract, maybe one day I will sign a second one.”
Mourinho reveals the project involves some changes to the structure at Trigoria.
“We want to create something that lasts over time,” Mourinho continued. “We want to start organising the club better in every area that has to do with the team.
“We want to build something important. But we know that we must do it one step at a time. We must start with the structures that revolve around the team.
“Not only the infrastructures, but also the human structures. We are having a lot of meetings, we are talking a lot and we are already trying to change some things at the club, so when we arrive at Trigoria, the spaces will be more adequate than our ideas and needs.
“The club is very helpful, everyone is very open and cooperative. I always say that you get to know a player when he works with him.”
Mourinho returns to Serie A 11 years after having left Inter and the Portuguese coach explained how much he has changed since the historic Treble with the Nerazzurri.
“I have improved a lot. I’m serious, I’m a better coach,” he continued. “Because I think this is a job where experience matters a lot.
“With the experience… it seems like déjà vu, because you live many experiences. After Italy, I went to Real Madrid, which was an incredible experience, and I realised my dream of winning in Italy, England and Spain.
“Then I went back to England because my family is there, and that’s where I wanted to go back. I even had the extreme experience of bringing a team to the Final, and then not playing the Final.
“Something I thought would never happen in my career. Instead, it happened. So, after having lived through so many experiences and learning from positive and negative moments, I am much better prepared than in the past.”
The many changes at Roma includes signings for the Giallorossi and Mourinho expects to see some new players arrive through the door in the Italian capital.
“First of all, I will wait for gifts to arrive. I hope that the owners and Tiago Pinto will give me some gifts, because I would be happy with that,” Mourinho added.
“It would be an extra stimulus for me. And it would give me more potential to develop, with which to start the process.
“But, regardless of this, our preparation will be divided into several phases. Players will arrive one at a time. Those who played at the Euros will obviously arrive later, depending on how far their respective national teams progress in the tournament.
“It will be a great time for me to get to know the younger players.”