Roma boss Jose Mourinho has congratulated Torino for their steely performance in an eagerly-contested 1-1 draw against his Giallorossi side on Sunday night. However, the Special One has had to maintain his public image as a villain as he aimed a dig at the Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino pitch.
Mourinho’s men were minutes away from making it three competitive wins on the trot before Duvan Zapata nodded home a late goal to keep Roma at a single victory in five Serie A matches. The Colombian’s strike denied Romelu Lukaku a chance to establish himself as an early Giallorossi hero following his match-winning goal against Sheriff Tiraspol on Thursday.
Given Ivan Juric’s style of play and Roma’s sluggish start to the new campaign, a hard-fought contest was inevitable. Unfortunately for Mourinho, Roma couldn’t keep hold of a slender lead, crumbling under Torino’s late pressure. The hosts’ relentless effort to avoid defeat earned them high acclaim from the Portuguese manager.
“Playing against Torino is difficult, as against all the teams that have this style. They interpret it very well with their physicality and intensity, it was a difficult match to play, and from my point of view we did well,” the Roma tactician said, as quoted by Gianluca Di Marzio.
“Creating against them is difficult, and so is playing first, as you should do against a team like Toro.“
The disappointed Roma coach could help himself. He had to blow off some steam, with a poor pitch condition at the Olimpico Grande Torino falling victim to his frustration.
“A pitch like that… Let’s say that I will no longer criticize the Olimpico in Rome because it has a pitch that in comparison seems like a catwalk.“
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