Serie A – AS Roma: What is José Mourinho playing?

Even he couldn’t do anything. Even the man with five European finals has not managed to overthrow the Sevillian ogre, capable of winning the C3 six times since 2006. On Wednesday evening, José Mourinho was forced to surrender against Sevilla FC, winner of his Roma (1-1 ap, 4-1 on pens) at the end of the night. And, probably, the longest final in history, started in May and finished in June, after 148 minutes of intense combat. Worn, tired, marked, the “Mou” tried to look good on the lawn, consoling his players, first, before recovering his medal and finally throwing it at a young boy in the stands. Without waiting for the end of the protocol, he ended up joining the locker room at Puskas Arena. To unpin for the first time at the microphone of Sky Italia.

“I want to stay but my players deserve more, I deserve more. I don’t want to fight anymore for this. I’m tired of being a coach, a communicator, the club’s spokesperson“, he launched, adding to want”stay, but in better conditions to be able to give the best of myself“. Without naming them, the Portuguese has decided to attack, once again this season, its leaders, first of all the Friedkin family, owner of the club and which is at the origin of his surprise arrival in May 2021.

Mourinho does not understand his president

So what exactly is behind his words? Since last December, behind the scenes and in public, Mourinho has been asking for an appointment with Dan Friedkin, the big American boss of Roma. For what ? “Because he made his relatives understand, a few months ago already, that he needs to plan next season by meeting the president and knowing what strategy to adopt to optimize the club and the workforce. He is also aware that financial fair play will have a big impact on the next two transfer windows, that of this summer and winter 2024.“, answered us Augusto Ciardi, Roman journalist of the local radio Teleradiostereo and one of the first to have announced his arrival two years ago, Wednesday.

The “Special One” therefore does not understand why, even today, his request remains unanswered. This interview, on which he was counting a lot, has still not taken place. Worse, it’s not even scheduled yet. In the impasse and with his back to the wall, the technician of the Louve, who receives a net salary of 7 million euros per year, the highest in the Italian championship, ended up logically questioning his future in the eternal city, where he and his loved ones nevertheless feel very well.

If Mourinho is asking for guarantees and investments, it is simply because he is aiming higher in his goals. The Portuguese, who believes he has worked miracles with this workforce, cannot be satisfied with two sixth places (while waiting for the last day this weekend), a C4 won and a C3 brushed against. It is therefore for these reasons that he believes that he and his players “deserve better”, just like the Giallorossi supporters. “Next season we won’t play the Champions League, maybe better, it’s paradoxical, but we’re not ready for the Champions League. We still have to qualify for a European competition, like the Europa League“, he estimated at a press conference. In addition, the Roman coach admitted having “never been so proud as tonight (Wednesday, editor’s note)” after his team’s defeat against Sevilla FC. His attachment to his team is sincere. His weariness towards his leaders too.

He did receive an offer from Saudi Arabia

Finally, the Portuguese also wants the arrival of an intermediate figure between him and the Friedkin family. “He wants a more direct relationship, more frequent contact, to get his demands across without having to display them in the public arena. He also wants someone who goes in front of the microphones to do the job“, we are told in Trigoria. Mourinho has nothing against Tiago Pinto, his sporting director, despite recent questionable statements. “His dream is a Gabriele Oriali figure, like when he was at Inter in 2010“, reveals a journalist who follows Roma in his daily life. Questioned, the Friedkin family recalls that the “Mou” has a contract which runs until 2024, and that it is therefore not necessary to speak to each other The “Mou” certainly regrets the time when he could knock at any time at the office of Massimo Moratti, his former president at Inter.