Roma midfielder Jordan Veretout stressed Jose Mourinho ‘is always the man for the job’, when asked about the current situation at Trigoria. ‘He’s a winner, a coach suitable for a great project like that of the Friedkins’.
After a flying start to the new campaign, Mourinho has encountered difficulties and pressure of working in the Italian capital.
Veretout, who arrived from Fiorentina in July 2019 after a spell at Aston Villa in the Premier League, believes the Portuguese is the right man to take the club forward and match the ambitions of the owners.
“Jose Mourinho is always the man for the job,” Veretout told Les Parisien. “He’s a winner, a coach suitable for a great project like that of the Friedkins at Roma.
“He is rigorous, he has an incredible experience. He has won a lot and makes everyone want to commit 200 per cent.”
This is why Veretout believes Mourinho will be able to turn the difficult situation around, as Roma are still fighting for a place in the top four of Italian football.
But he points at a difficult environment in Rome and claimed the players must find a way to please the fans.
“He will find a way to reverse this dynamic. In Rome, there’s a lot of passion. If you win, you are at the top. If you lose, it’s a tragedy.
“The fans are our strength. It’s up to us to give them something back for this support. I have learned a lot in Serie A.”
Veretout admitted it was difficult at the start but feels he has adapted to the Italian style during his time in the Italian capital.
He believes his time in Serie A has helped him break into the France squad under Didier Deschamps, as he replaced Paul Pogba this month to earn his third consecutive call-up.
“Physically it’s tough, even tactically,” he said. “Right now, I’m playing for Roma as one of two players in front of the defence.
“I like to defend, attack, press the player on the ball. I’m capable of scoring goals, of assisting. I have to reproduce it with the national team. Ever since I was very young, I have been telling myself that I can do great things with hard work.
“And among the great things, there’s the French national team. Being part of the squad is great, I made my dream come true.
“There’s nothing above the France shirt. Being called up in September, October and now in November. The hardest part is continuing to do well over the long term.
“I have never been discouraged. Performance at the club is key, there’s no age limit to represent your country. I take another midfielder as an example: Claude Makelele.
“After two or three appearances at 22 or 23, he was only regularly called up since he was 27 and onwards.”
Except for the last time and the time before that. Oh and the time before that.