Ever a colourful character, Jose Mourinho has continued proving entertaining when speaking to the media this season, aiming barbed comments at everyone from players and coaches to journalists and referees.
La Gazzetta dello Sport detailed the Roma coach’s various outbursts in the press over the last four months, where he’s sniped at seemingly all those around him during his third year in charge in the Italian capital.
Mourinho’s contract with Roma expires at the end of the season and it’s still unclear if he’ll move forward with the club or leave in the summer. He has never spent more than three consecutive years at the same club since taking on the leading role in the dugout back in September 2000 at Benfica.
Ahead of the season opener against Salernitana, Mourinho – who was suspended – was asked about the difference in treatment between the coaches in Serie A.
“I’m only interested in the pitch, the match, the referees and the bench. I want equal treatment for everyone, I want honesty. If someone doesn’t like Mourinho, it doesn’t matter, during the match everyone must be treated the same.
“I’m not worried about this situation, it’s about the game. We are all equal and this is the only thing I want. If this is the case, we will have the perfect season.”
After beating Empoli 7-0 on September 17, Mourinho complained about the Giallorossi’s schedule this term.
“We are also a bit unlucky, Atalanta, for example, will play on Thursday and then Monday, whereas we always play on Thursday and Sunday. Maybe there is someone in the League who doesn’t like me.”
In the same press conference, he also defended Romelu Lukaku from unhappy Inter fans after the Belgian striker netted his first goal for Roma.
“There they have no reason to be angry, they won the derby 5-1 and they have many extraordinary forwards. They must be happy for their former coach who needed Romelu.”
The Portuguese coach was clearly frustrated after Roma’s 4-1 loss to Genoa at the end of September and he made his feelings apparent after it was highlighted that the club had experienced their worst start to the season in the three-point era.
“It’s also the worst start to my career… but Roma played in two consecutive European finals. Genoa played 48 hours before us. In yesterday’s matches five players had muscle injuries, tonight three. How can we get out of this? By staying united. There is no market, no one is coming.”
Mourinho backed himself after Roma’s 2-0 win over Frosinone at the start of October and made reference to his Juventus counterpart Massimiliano Allegri.
“The start of the season was horrible for the results, I know, but it was multifactorial, it’s not just my fault. Three months ago, everyone was panicking at the thought that I might leave. […] Today I saw that Allegri brought on Rugani for Bremer and I thought: ‘Blessed Max…’.”
The Giallorossi edged out a 1-0 win over Monza on October 22 and Mourinho was shown a red card for a provocative celebration. In his post-match comments, he aimed a dig at Papu Gomez, who had been suspended after a failing doping test.
“He didn’t play in the Europa League final against us, but he took to the pitch in the semi-final against Juventus and it was already known, his positivity. I have a bit of a cough, but I don’t take his syrup. Then they find me positive.”
The following week, whilst he was sat in the stands of San Siro, his Roma suffered a 1-0 loss to Inter. His statements to the media highlighted his frustration at both the officials and the league.
“He gave yellows to players who seemed ‘chosen’, the two central defenders, Ndicka and Mancini, and the two central midfielders, Paredes and Cristante. There is no respect for my players. […] They gave us a gift, we played today (Sunday, ed.) and not Monday.”
The Special one was furious after the Giallorossi’s 2-0 loss to Slavia Prague in the Europa League and underlined his anger with his players.
“Everything is missing, no-one must speak except me. I didn’t like anything. Very few players have had the professional attitude that I demand. Only Bove did well, but with only one out of 11, games cannot be won. A very fair defeat.”
Following the tensions of the Derby della Capitale – which ended goalless – Mourinho hit out at referee Davide Massa and Lazio winger Pedro.
“When the referee has a policy, only for us, to give two yellows in the first 25 minutes to two central defenders (Mancini and Ndicka, ed.), we’re in difficulty. Pedro is a fantastic player… but he could also swim because he throws himself into the pool.”
Despite beating Udinese on November 26, Mourinho was still feeling annoyed after the victory and sniped at Chris Smalling, who has been sidelined for months with an injury.
“There are others who have more ability to tolerate pain. He (Smalling, ed.) stands back a little. Look at Mancini, today he had a physical problem and played with painkillers. He is one of those who would also play on one leg.”
The 1-1 draw with Servette at the end of November infuriated the Portuguese coach, who knew that a first-place finish in the group was essentially out of reach.
“There are people who play in a superficial way, even without having great experience in Europe. Then there are the usual ones who are always there for 90 minutes, I don’t need to name names.
“If someone knocks on my office door and tells me that he wants to play more, I will give him playing time when the others are dead. Because the players who respond are always the same.”
Roma’s 2-1 win over Sassuolo at the start of December was the scene of various barbed comments, starting with Mourinho’s frustration with Domenico Berardi.
“I love him, but you have to have respect for your opponents. What he does is to make too much fun of others. I love him and hate him, I don’t like that type of behaviour on the pitch, if he were one of my players, I wouldn’t like him at all.”
He also touched on the choice of officials for the match.
“He worries me, he doesn’t have the emotional stability for a match of this level. Tomorrow Mancini will be booked after 10 minutes and will miss Fiorentina, but we will carry on anyway.”
The following day, after the victory, the Portuguese coach only answered questions in Portuguese.
“My Italian is not polished enough to express certain concepts. When I spoke about emotional stability, I was speaking of a quality that in life and in football is necessary to be able to perform at the highest levels.”
The most recent comments came after Roma’s 2-1 win over Cremonese in the Coppa Italia Round of 16, where Mourinho specifically asked for Mediaset pundit Massimo Mauro, who was not in the studio. He was then asked why he wanted to talk to the former player.
“He is a former footballer, not respecting people who eat from the same plate where he ate is a bad thing. There are people with a different profile, when there is someone who has put his ass on a bench or sets foot on the pitch, they understand and show respect.
“It seems to me that he still eats from that plate, I don’t think he works for his pretty face, but he takes money.”
The Roma coach was responding to Mauro’s comments to Pressing, where he complained about the Giallorossi’s gameplan.
“The behaviour of the players was questionable, it was a very difficult match for the referee and I justify it.
“I saw a match full of fouls and fights, unsportsmanlike, and I think it was a precise strategy of Mourinho’s team. This is even more serious because it goes against the spirit of football.”