Mourinho’s mind games on Sassuolo produced their effects

José Mourinho had openly criticised Sassuolo–Roma referee Matteo Marcenaro and the Neroverdi star Domenico Berardi on the eve of their meeting and his mind games on Alessio Dionisi’s men worked as the Giallorossi secured a 2-1 win at the Mapei Stadium on Sunday, writes Lorenzo Bettoni.

“To be honest, I will say that I am worried about the referee. We had this official three times and I don’t think he has the emotional stability to work at this level,” Mourinho said at a pre-match press conference on Saturday, awkwardly complaining about the referee 24 hours before the game even began.

“It is not just Sassuolo-Roma, we are three points off the Champions League places and it is a very important match for us. I am not relaxed about the referee or the VAR, who we were also often unlucky with,” he continued.

“I am worried about Berardi, who is a fantastic player, I love him, but he needs to show more respect for his opponents. He mocks other players and gets them booked, so I love and hate him. I don’t like that kind of behaviour on the field and would really dislike seeing that from one of my players.”

It was clear to everyone that Mou was playing his usual mind games knowing that he would need every little thing this season, to reach the top four. The Sassuolo fixture has never been easy for Mourinho’s Roma as the Giallorossi had never won at the Mapei Stadium under the Special One.

The early signs on Sunday suggested Roma would struggle again to bring points at the Stadio Olimpico on Sunday. Matheus Enrique gave the hosts the lead at minute 25 and the Neroverdi seemed even more motivated by what Mourinho had said on the eve of the game. They were in control of the match even if Andrea Consigli needed a spectacular save before the break to keep the hosts ahead.

Nevertheless, Mourinho’s words produced their effects in the second half, when a straight red card to Daniel Boloca changed the game. The midfielder’s challenge on Leandro Paredes was reviewed by Marcenaro on the pitchside monitor after the referee had only punished the 24-year-old with a yellow card. Just two replays were enough to understand the card’s colour had to change so Boloca got a deserved straight red and was nearly in tears when he left the pitch.

Another correct referee decision helped Roma equalise through Paulo Dybala. Leeds loanee Rasmus Kristensen earned a penalty kick which needed no VAR review from Marcenaro. Sassuolo players were burning out after dominating the first half and things would get even worse for Dionisi’s side.

A Kristensen shot at minute 82 was deflected by Ruan Tressoldi, so the ball entered the net at the far post, giving Mourinho his first win in Reggio Emilia and helping Roma reach Napoli in fourth.

Sassuolo didn’t keep their nerves and the attitude of Roma players contributed to their breakdown in the second half. Mourinho’s men often did what the Special One had blamed Berardi for. They didn’t lack complaints to the referee and arguments with their opponents and, in the long run, they won the psychological battle with the Neroverdi, securing a crucial victory.

Mourinho had even said his defender Gianluca Mancini would have been booked for a foul on Berardi. On the contrary, the Italian winger was one of the four Sassuolo players receiving a yellow card, while Kristensen was the only Roma man on the naughty list at the Mapei Stadium.

Mourinho’s mind games continued after the final whistle when, out of nowhere, he gave a post-match interview to DAZN Italia, speaking in Portuguese.

“My Italian is not sufficiently polished to express certain concepts,” he explained.

“When I talked about emotional stability, I was referring to a quality that in life and in football is necessary to perform at the highest level.”