Jose Mourinho was impressed with Paulo Dybala’s work in Roma’s 1-0 Coppa Italia win over Genoa and ruled out the possibility of becoming the next Portugal coach.
The Giallorossi maintained control throughout their cup clash with the Rossoblu, seeing more of the ball and having the lion’s share of chances. Although the Roman outfit took far more shots than their Ligurian opposition, it took more than an hour for a breakthrough to come, with Dybala’s agile effort and near-post shot being enough to guide the club to victory.
Speaking to Sportmediaset after the match, Mourinho first reacted to Roma’s win and the booing aimed at Nicolo Zaniolo.
“I’m no longer a child, I’m going to be 60 soon but I know that when you give your all you don’t have to give more.
“When a player gives everything, he always has my affection. I was sorry to hear some booing for Zaniolo, I ask people not to boo my players.”
He commented on the condition of Lorenzo Pellegrini, who was forced off at half time, and the work of his players in the win.
“Tomorrow we’ll see, but there are some problems. I wanted to do everything not to go into extra time.
“Tonight, there was teamwork and collective control of the match, the three defenders gave us great security. Dybala, however, is something else, he has a different scent.”
The Portuguese coach was asked about the clash between Roma and Napoli fans on the side of a motorway.
“I coach Roma, that’s my role. According to some people I coach badly, but that’s all my job is.”
Mourinho was asked if he agreed with Tiago Pinto’s suggestion that the team have what they need for a top four finish.
“The director is the director. I don’t think the coach should comment on his statements.”
Mourinho then discussed the match in a press conference.
“The team always gives their best, when you play 40-50 games in a season it seems like we don’t give our best. The team and the players are untouchable from this point of view. Paulo is a player who makes the team and the coach better, there are coaches who have 4-5 players like him, some have 11, some have 20.
“We have neither seven nor eight, with Dybala the music is different. The team was creating a lot, let’s not forget that Gilardino set the team up well, they were able to build from the backand I liked that a lot. I want to give credit to the team.”
The Portuguese coach then commented on his state of mind heading into the second half of the season.
“I’m happy and I always give my best, that’s what matters. I always give my best for what I do, if I haven’t spoken for two months it’s because I’ve been suspended and I never speak when I am.
“Today I can talk to you and say something that may not interest you much, but I want to thank the president of the Portuguese Federation, what he said made me very proud.
“Saying that I was his only choice and that he would do anything to bring me home made me very happy. I’m not gone though, I’m here and I’ll give my best.”
He gave his thoughts on Zaniolo’s work on the pitch and the crowd reaction.
“I’m sorry to have heard the booing at the time of the change. One of the things that gives me pride are the numbers at the Olimpico, which is always sold-out, I’m very pleased even if it’s not my doing.
“Empathy has been built up over a long time, as a group we always give our all and I’m sorry to have heard some booing for Zaniolo, he’s a great example of a guy who gives his all.
“I learned as a child that if you give your all, you can’t give more. Zaniolo gives everything he has, my Roma history is small but people hear me.
“I say they can boo the team, the coach, the result but not the individual players. I’m sorry for Zaniolo, I’m sorry that my club doesn’t have the personality to go straight. Instead of going here, you can go here and there.”
Finally, Mourinho discussed if this Roma team can win the Coppa Italia.
“First of all, I’ll say I would love to win it, I won it once playing against Roma, I would love to win it playing with Roma in Rome. I think it’s the worst cup in Europe, it doesn’t protect the smaller teams.
“It doesn’t put on a show, I’m talking about Torino for example who win on the pitch of the Italian champions Milan, then they have to play the next elimination game away from home, I don’t understand this structure of the Coppa Italia.
“We played against a Serie B team with a full stadium, if there are empty stadiums they must understand why we are full and the others are not.
“Last year we finished sixth, the year before we finished seventh and I want to invest in the Coppa Italia, but a lower team doesn’t want to play, what motivation do these people have?
“Torino won against the Italian champions, they made great history in the Round of 16 and they have to play away. Where is the beauty of the Coppa Italia? It would be nice to play on a Serie B or Serie C pitch, where is that? Because people accept it.
“The next elimination game will be either in Naples or at home with Cremonese, if we lose like last year, we’ll lose but we’ll try to win. For a squad like ours, playing three competitions together is very hard.
“There’s too much build-up for people of more quality, it’s a big risk to play three or four players who don’t play all the time or to put so many kids together, I could have done Bove-Tahirovic but I didn’t.
“If we want to win the Coppa Italia I won’t say we want to because everyone wants to, we will try to win the next game of the tournament.”
Why was Zaniolo being booed?
Because he misses many chances every game. He does everything right except scoring. He was better during his first/second season in Roma
sad, but a player of his caliber must be consistent.
Good points by Mou regarding the Coppa Italia.
Most strikers miss most of their chances ..moise Kean is worse .. at least zaniolo won the cup last year