In the end it will be true that the third season of Jose Mourinho It’s cursed. He did not live a third year at Inter because he went to the Bernabéu, his second stage at Chelsea did not complete the three years, he left Real Madrid after a bad third year and left Manchester United in December… in the middle of its third season. He is now living his third year in Rome and things are not looking good. The defeat against Genoa (4-1) exacerbates a monumental crisis: they are only two points above relegation in Serie A.
“The worst start to Serie A in the history of Roma? It’s true, also in my career… “as it is true that Roma had never reached two European finals in a row”, was Mourinho’s response to the criticism after the defeat in Marassi.
The worst start to Serie A in Roma history? It is true, also in my career… as it is true that Roma had never reached two European finals in a row
Jose Mourinho
The Portuguese showed his face at the press conference and also under the Luigi Ferraris Curve, before more than 2,000 Giallorossi tifosi who asked their footballers for “more courage.” “We were there out of respect for the fans,” adds the Portuguese, who is resigned. It has been a disastrous start to the season with just 5 points out of a possible 18 and the victory in the Europa League, against Sheriff, as the only consolation.
The Roma players, after the win in Genoa.
The market was exciting
What is filtered from Rome is that, for now, Mourinho’s job is not at risk. But this weekend ‘La Loba’ faces the surprising Frosinone of Di Francsco (which returns to the Olympic) in a Lazio derby that could be decisive… to come back or to fall even further.
“How can Roma get out of this situation?” Mourinho was asked. “Doing it all together. There is no open market, no one is going to come. This is our team… with its strengths and weaknesses. Let’s move on, there’s no need to cry.”explained.
There is no open market, no one is going to come. This is our team… with its strengths and weaknesses.
Jose Mourinho
But the reality is that it was not a bad market… with “its strengths and weaknesses.” Roma does not have the capacity to spend money due to the debts left by the previous ownership and to comply with the FPF they must move with free agents or loans. And they did it well. Or so (almost) all of us thought.
Lukaku and Dybala, against Genoa.
Lukaku, Aouar, Renato Sanches, N’Dicka, Paredes, Kristensen, Azmoun… or Dybala last year arrived with these conditions. High salaries but low or non-existent transfer costs. The ambition, after losing the Europa League final with Sevilla (“I will always continue saying that we did not lose the final in Budapest,” Mourinho said a few days ago), was to enter the TOP-4.
To improve the club’s financial situation, the money provided by the Champions League is necessary… but for now that goal seems further away than ever. And there was a team to compete for, at least, fourth place.
But This Roma’s game is a constant improvisation. Balls to Dybala to invent or crosses into the area, trusting that Lukaku will win all the duels. Cristante, outside of the aforementioned duo, is the only one who accompanies. The constant injuries don’t help either. And then there’s the defense…
A defense drama
Too many goals conceded? Every shot they make is a goal
Jose Mourinho
“Too many goals conceded? Every shot they make is a goal”Mourinho declared after the rout. So it was. Rui Patricio is not up to the Olympic goal and the defense, although it may seem impossible to believe, misses Ibañez (traded to Saudi Arabia for 30 million) and Smalling (injured).
Mourinho, along with his footballers.
Diego Llorente, who was being one of the best of ‘La Loba’ at the beginning of the season, was injured in Genoa and N’Dicka, who took several weeks to make his first appearance, is not up to what was expected when he arrived from Frankfurt.
Meanwhile, the wingers, who are not providing solidity at the back in the five-man defense, do not make a difference in attack either. Spinazzola lives far from his best level since that serious injury at EURO 2021 and Kristensen (on loan from Leeds) leaves a lot to be desired in the offensive phase.
A figure that is no longer untouchable
But the worst thing for Roma is that the figure of its leader is increasingly in doubt. If Mourinho arrived as a hero in 2021 and led Roma to two consecutive European finals for the first time in their history, that no longer seems insufficient credit. There are doubts within the club… and in the stands.
Mourinho, during Genoa – Rome.
In the past, the Friedkins wanted to get rid of Mourinho and could not do so due to the economic situation.
Mattioli on ‘Radio Radio Mattino’
“In the past the Friedkins wanted to get rid of Mourinho and could not do so due to the economic situation”, is the notice that Mattioli sends on ‘Radio Radio Mattino’. The American owners, in fact, called Tiago Pinto, the club’s CEO, to ask for explanations after the win.
But now everything is more crystal clear: Mourinho’s contract ends in June 2024 and the settlement, in the event of an early departure, would be less than in past years.
2023-09-29 08:42:37
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