Jose Mourinho warns Roma ‘respect Ludogorets, but we are not here for tourism, we are here to win’ and they could take out their anger at the 4-0 Udinese defeat in this Europa League tie.
It kicks off on Thursday at 17.45 UK time (16.45 GMT) in Bulgaria, in a group along with Real Betis and HJK Helsinki.
The Giallorossi qualified for this tournament by finishing sixth in Serie A, but also by winning the Europa Conference League.
“This is why we really deserve to be here, as we qualified twice for this competition. We want to go forward, without setting objectives of reaching the Final, semi-final, whatever. Our objective is to qualify from the group, we are here to respect Ludogorets, but we are here to win too,” said the coach in his press conference.
“It’s difficult to predict how they will play, we need to be ready for anything, we know they are a good team. They have experience in European football, lots of foreign players, difficulties we expect for sure, but at the same time we are not here for tourism, not here to save players.
“We want to start well, we know it’s a group phase, not a knockout, so there is space for mistakes, but my experience tells me if you start a group well, you have better conditions to control it and finish well.”
The top two teams in the group go forward in the Europa League, while the side that finishes third drops into the Conference League.
“We want to stay in the Europa League, not to go again into the Conference League. It also depends how we play. If we are dominant, they have to defend, if we are not dominant then we are going to be in a defensive situation. So let’s try to impose our game, come here full strength and try to win.”
Roma need to get back on track after their shock 4-0 Serie A defeat to Udinese at the weekend, which started in the worst possible way with Destiny Udogie pouncing on a Rick Karsdorp error after five minutes.
“We need to start tomorrow at 0-0, because practically in Udine it started already 1-0 for them,” commented Mourinho.
“That makes a huge difference. The other thing is that normally we defend very well, so I am not too worried. I see that game as being out of normality, it can happen in football. My reaction with the players was very calm, because I can see it was not normal and isolated incidents made it that result.
“Maybe, and I mean maybe, Ludogorets will feel how upset we are tomorrow.”
Mourinho unusually refused to reply when asked about injury updates on his players, as Tammy Abraham, Karsdorp, Nicolò Zaniolo, Stephan El Shaarawy, Marash Kumbulla and Georginio Wijnaldum have not made the trip.
“If anyone is not playing, it’s because they have a problem.”
Roma should react by confirming that they mean business this season.