José Mourinho: Roma’s Struggles Away from Home
In a press conference ahead of the match against Udinese, José Mourinho discussed the mentality of his Roma team. “I’ve had teams that were like gangs of bandits, they enjoyed playing away from home. But we, as a team, don’t do that. There are people who prefer the comfort of home because they miss their mom or grandma who bakes them sweets,” Mourinho said. He acknowledged that Roma has a bit of a problem in this regard. “At home, we usually manage to do it even in difficult situations and at the last minute. But away from home, we lack a bit of mentality,” he added.
Mourinho also provided an update on contract negotiations, stating, “I spoke with the Friedkin family again yesterday. We are working, but not on the contract.” Shifting the focus to Chris Smalling’s injury, Mourinho explained, “There is a problem, but he doesn’t know how to play while suffering. He holds back a bit. But his injury is difficult, and we need to be patient. I can’t exhaust myself or exhaust him. Let’s see when he will return. I don’t expect it to be before 2-3 weeks. Hopefully, before 2024.”
Roma’s Struggles Away from Home
José Mourinho, the coach of Roma, expressed his concerns about the team’s performance away from home. In a press conference before the match against Udinese, Mourinho compared his current team to previous ones he had coached. “I’ve had teams that were like gangs of bandits, they enjoyed playing away from home. But we, as a team, don’t do that,” he said. Mourinho attributed this to some players’ preference for the comfort of home, missing their loved ones who provide them with homemade treats.
Mourinho acknowledged that Roma has a problem with mentality when playing away. “At home, we usually manage to perform well even in difficult situations and at the last minute. But away from home, we lack a bit of mentality,” he added. The coach emphasized the need for improvement in this area to achieve better results on the road.
Contract Negotiations and Smalling’s Injury
During the press conference, Mourinho provided an update on contract negotiations with the Friedkin family, the owners of Roma. “I spoke with the Friedkin family again yesterday. We are working, but not on the contract,” he clarified. While the details of the discussions were not disclosed, it is evident that both parties are actively engaged in ongoing talks.
Mourinho also addressed the injury of defender Chris Smalling. “There is a problem, but he doesn’t know how to play while suffering. He holds back a bit,” Mourinho explained. The coach emphasized the need for patience in Smalling’s recovery process, stating, “His injury is difficult, and we need to be patient. I can’t exhaust myself or exhaust him. Let’s see when he will return. I don’t expect it to be before 2-3 weeks. Hopefully, before 2024.” The team will have to cope without Smalling’s presence on the field for the foreseeable future.