Jose Mourinho opened up about his desires for the January transfer window and noted that he ‘doesn’t need to think’ about his future with Roma.
The Giallorossi have already booked their spot in the Europa League Round of 16 and are now looking to try and secure a first-place finish in Group G. Mourinho’s side sit two points behind Slavia Prague, so they need to beat Sheriff and hope the Czech side lose to Servette.
Mourinho’s future with Roma is still shrouded in doubt, with his contract set to expire at the end of the season, and he’s expecting a few reinforcements to arrive in January to help amidst the various injuries.
Speaking in a press conference via TMW, Mourinho first discussed the importance of the support from the Roma fans.
“What can I say, the day the stadium isn’t full will be a negative surprise for us. It’s nice, the Olimpico like this is a motivation. They don’t care if there’s a great team, there are no conditions. Tomorrow, we have to win for them, for us, for football because the game must be respected.
“Maybe no one thinks that Slavia will lose tomorrow, but anything is possible. And for this reason, we must win. There will be changes and they will also be forced in the way of playing.”
He touched on the changing nature of his team.
“This is also a characteristic: being less strong on dead balls. A team with Smalling and Ibanez wins more defensive duels, is more dangerous on dead balls, is a better team in the possession phase.
“Scoring goals after 21-23 passes, it’s a quality that for other teams is fantastic, but when I do it we don’t. I read the statements of president Viola who won 30 years ago, and 30 years ago it was no different from now.”
The Portuguese coach spoke about his hopes for the coming January transfer window.
“Our market will always be suitable for what we can do. I’m counting on it, I’m the coach. We’re together, it’s not that I want one thing, Tiago another, the owners another. We all want the same thing.
“I’m not jealous, but City paid €80m for Philips and in January, they’ll send him away and get someone else. We are a different reality. I would like one, two, three, four players, we all want to try to improve the team, to be stronger, but we have difficulty doing so.
“I’ll tell you honestly: if we sign a defender in the January transfer window, I’m already happy. Would I like more? Of course, but that’s not possible. They are working to give me options for a defender. Then if we sign him, we have difficulties for the UEFA list.
“I would like people to understand this and honesty when talking about the objectives. It’s one thing to want, another thing to be able. We can’t do anything more than a defender who can help.
“Ndicka won’t be there from January 3rd, Mancini is a booking away from suspension, Llorente resists and continues to play, Smalling won’t be there. In the end it will be possible to do something.”
He kept it brief when asked why he didn’t talk to the media after the 1-1 draw with Fiorentina on the weekend.
“We talked a lot. We didn’t keep quiet.”
Mourinho was asked about his plans for the future with Roma.
“I don’t need to think. I have everything very clear in my head. I can only thank the fans and it doesn’t make me comfortable on the pitch. The team supports me on the pitch. Obviously, it makes me proud and makes me emotional but it’s something that I don’t like.
“Don’t do it for me. It’s the team that needs to feel the support there. But I thank them. When I was a ball boy and dad was the coach, I passed on information many times.”
He gave his thoughts on the absence of Paulo Dybala.
“There is a match with Dybala and one without. With Dybala, Fiorentina weren’t able to press. Without Dybala there isn’t another like him and now there won’t be, just like Romelu, and it will be a difficult situation because we can’t replicate that and we should do things differently.
“We have Belotti and Pellegrini who can be the second striker. We have El Shaarawy. Without Dybala it won’t be the same.”
The Portuguese coach confirmed his plans to use a four-man defence.
“More or less yes because Celik and Karsdorp play on the same side.”
He discussed the trials and tribulations of Renato Sanches this season.
“He’ll play tomorrow. He has been working with us for two weeks in a row without playing. He hasn’t played and has been working with us. I hope his intensity increases. He is a bit held back by the fear of a muscle injury. I hope the emotion of the match will let him go to the other side.
“If he’s not up for it, it’s hard to play matches of a high level and intensity. Tomorrow is important for him. He already knows he’s playing and has trained specifically for it. Tomorrow, I expect 45-60 real minutes.”
Finally, Mourinho spoke about the injury situation at Roma.
“It’s tough for Leo, for Azmoun there is hope. Mancini has a major problem, his legs aren’t broken, but he will play.
“He’s a different guy from someone who with a problem here (his pinkie finger, ed.) already won’t play because it hurts there. He doesn’t have this problem. Pellegrini and Paredes are available for tomorrow, Cristante too.”