Sunday’s Serie A program includes a handsomely-looking contest between Roma and Atalanta as its most prominent feature. Speaking to the press in the build-up, Giallorossi boss Jose Mourinho waxed lyrical about Gian Piero Gasperini’s side, insisting he expects ‘a difficult game.’
Roma kicked off 2024 on a winning note, coming from behind to beat second-tier Cremonese 2-1 in midweek Coppa Italia action. That was a morale-boosting result for Mourinho’s charges after a gut-wrenching 1-0 defeat to Juventus at the end of 2023 demoted them to seventh in the standings.
Despite commencing the new calendar year outside the European spots, Roma trail fourth-placed Fiorentina by a mere five points. Sunday’s encounter against sixth-placed Atalanta could have significant top-four implications, with Mourinho labeling La Dea as a potentially formidable opposition.
“The match is of a high level, the opponent is of a high level, there are lots of good players, Atalanta is an excellent team. The game will be difficult, like Napoli, Juventus and then Lazio and Milan, the level of the opponents never drops,” the Roma coach said, as quoted by TMW.
“They have everything. Quality, experience, options, they have had the same coach for many years, with the same philosophy, the same way of playing, he is very empathetic.”
While paying respect to direct top-four rivals, Mourinho believes his Roma players have what it takes to keep it competitive at the Stadio Olimpico.
“We won two years ago, last year we lost one of our best games at home. It will always be difficult, but this is who we are, we are tough, we are not an easy opponent either. We always find strength in our difficulties, they know we won’t be easy.“
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