Roma boss Jose Mourinho, who was sent off during his side’s 0-0 Serie A draw with Napoli, has delivered his assessment of the game. Mourinho’s debut in Derby del Solle saw the Giallorossi and the Partenopei share the spoils in a match highlighted by plenty of tension and punishments on both sides.
Napoli headed into proceedings as the only Serie A side to have won all eight league matches this season, seeking their first-ever 100% nine-game start to a new top-flight campaign. However, Roma, who succumbed to an embarrassing 6-1 Europa Conference League defeat to Bodo/Glimt, stood firm to play out their first league draw this season.
Tammy Abraham wasted the best scoring chance in the first half, failing to hit the target in a one-on-one situation with Napoli goalkeeper Davide Ospina. Roma had another clear-cut opportunity to wrap up all three points, but Gianluca Mancini misguided his free header from point-blank range midway through the second half.
The atmosphere at the Stadio Olimpico could have been cut with a knife as four Roma players were shown yellow cards. And while the Giallorossi XI avoided picking up a red, Mourinho received marching orders in the 82nd minute following his outburst at referees on the touchline.
Despite overseeing his side go winless in two consecutive Serie A matches now, the Special One hailed his team’s performance in a ‘tense game.’
“For me, it was a great game, but perhaps the feeling that I had was different from yours’. I think it was a high-level match,” Mourinho said, as relayed by TUTTOmercatoWEB.
“It’s never easy to play against Napoli, but we tried to win it. It was a 0-0 draw, not a great show, but I even got tired from the bench. I saw great concentration, not fear, but respect for the opponent.
“I think the full-backs are improving, Veretout and Cristante provide good diagonal cover in the middle of the park. It was important to see Zaniolo and Mkhitaryan help during the game. It was an intense game, I saw tired players, we had our chances, it was a unique game also for the two red cards shown to the coaches.“
Like Mourinho, his Napoli counterpart Luciano Spalletti also picked up a suspension for applauding referee Davide Massa in the dying moments of the encounter.
Mourinho also shared his opinion about the red cards.
“I wasn’t happy about the referee’s decision, but I didn’t say a word. Nobody is going home happy, both coaches were sent off, but I think the referee was balanced.“