Jose Mourinho sent a rallying text message to his squad of Roma players on New Year’s Eve, the night before the Giallorossi returned to full training after a short break over the festive period.
The message was an attempt to motivate the squad ahead of a crucial run of Serie A fixtures in January, with an overriding theme of togetherness and a need to repay the supporters.
“It is for the people that we must give everything and push ourselves beyond our limit. We must not give up on anything,” were the words sent by the Special One just before midnight on Sunday evening, according to reports from Il Corriere dello Sport.
Roma will have at least five, possibly six fixtures to contend with in January across Serie A and the Coppa Italia. The team are in cup action first, facing Cremonese in the Round of 16.
Roma will be hoping to avoid another upset, given that La Cremo surprised everybody by knocking them out of the same competition at the quarter-final stage last season.
A win in the Round of 16 will bring a Derby della Capitale clash in the quarter-final, as Lazio are already waiting in the final eight.
In the league, Roma’s next fixtures involve a home clash against fellow Champions League chasers Atalanta on Saturday 9 January, as well as a visit to San Siro to face third-place Milan the following weekend.
As Roma currently find themselves in seventh place in Serie A, a series of victories over the coming weeks would do the world of good for their hopes of ending the 2023-24 season in the top four.