Jose Mourinho insists Roma ‘dominated Atalanta for 90 minutes and should’ve won easily,’ but were beaten 1-0 and he sarcastically suggests Nicolò Zaniolo should learn to dive for penalties.
The only goal of the game was also from the only Dea shot on target, teenage defender Giorgio Scalvini meeting a Rasmus Hojlund assist on the edge of the box to drill into the bottom corner.
The Giallorossi had numerous chances, wasting them with Tammy Abraham, Nicolò Zaniolo and Eldor Shomurodov, while Mourinho was sent off for dissent protesting as Zaniolo and Caleb Okoli had handfuls of each other’s shirts.
The evening had started on the wrong foot for Roma anyway, as Paulo Dybala pulled out in the warm-up with a slight muscular issue.
“It went badly because we lost a game that we should’ve won easily, considering the way we played,” said Mourinho in his press conference.
“If we can imagine this domination we had in the final third, with many chances created, we can speculate that with Paulo on the field it might’ve been different.
“Nonetheless, those who played did well enough to win the game, easily, but unfortunately we did not score and that is why we lost.
“It is not pleasant to leave empty-handed, but it was a good performance, good spirit. We didn’t dominate Monza or Cremonese here for 90 minutes the way we did Atalanta.”
Mourinho also gave an injury update on Lorenzo Pellegrini.
“Pellegrini wanted to continue to the end, as a real captain, but he felt this flexor tighten. We’ll see if 15 days are sufficient to get Lorenzo and Paulo fully recovered.”
Tammy Abraham had at least two clear-cut opportunities that he failed to convert, but also performed a goal-line clearance to prevent Zeki Celik scoring an own goal.
“Tammy is an extraordinary lad who wants to do well and suffers when he doesn’t do well. He had a slight injury, games that didn’t go well, it’s not a good moment for him. Strikers are like that, they go through these periods.
“But zero criticism, he continues to be a good lad and a great professional, he is not here on vacation, he wants to learn and improve. He’ll get there.”
Mourinho was sent off for dissent and did not hold back on criticism towards referee Daniele Chiffi.
“There was a very clear penalty. I asked the referee afterwards why, and asked him to be clear with me that it was because Zaniolo did not go down. So therefore I have to change my advice to my players, I have to tell them don’t try to stay on your feet, don’t play the ball, be a clown the way many who dive like they’re in a swimming pool do in this league, because that is evidently how you get penalties.”
Did Chiffi confirm that?
“He was not clear with me.”
he should be fined for saying that zaniolo should dive
You’re an idiot. He’s being sarcastic to prove a point, that refs only call penalties when you dive, not when you’re fouled. What do you know about calcio anyways???
^capo crying, lol, mourinho didnt say refs only give penalties when you dive, thats was you
clearly capo knows nothing about football-never mind about calcio
Actually Capo is right, it was sarcasm maybe you should read the last paragraph again and again and again until it sinks in.
Actually, in the second half, Mou clearly directed Zaniolo to fall at the slightest contact.
He was upset that Nico stayed on his feet in the first half.