Having taken a jab at Lazio for their demotion from the UEFA Europa League and down to the Conference League – a competition his side won in the inaugural season – Jose Mourinho was handed a big blow when Roma lost the Derby della Capitale encounter by virtue of Felipe Anderson’s first-half strike.
The Special One was bitterly disappointed with how the Giallorossi lost the crucial fixture, credit largely to a mistake by Roger Ibanez, as he spoke in his post-match press conference (via Tuttomercatoweb).
“I think the game they played was also the consequence of being 1-0 up. Low blocking, compact, all together, in our cultures we say it was a cynical, intelligent game, in England people go home after 20 minutes. The tempo of the game was definitely very low, the intensity and continuity of play are very low, they understood that we were dominating but there was a lack of creativity in the last 20 metres.
There was talk of Milinkovic-Savic and Immobile, there was no mention of Dybala, I think he is more important because he is the light that gives us goals.Without Lorenzo it’s even more difficult, but when Volpato came on he gave us creativity. There was little time to play, I think the last eight minutes were actually a minute and a half, they took the points and went home.
There was talk of Milinkovic-Savic and Immobile’s absence, there was no mention of Dybala, I think he is more important because he is the light that gives us goals.
“Without Lorenzo it’s even more difficult, but when Volpato came on he gave us creativity. There was little time to play, I think the last eight minutes were actually a minute and a half, they took the points and went home.”
Mourinho then shone light on Nicolo Zaniolo, who just couldn’t pierce through the watertight Biancocelesti defence
“They are totally different players. Nicolò is not creative, he has an incredible physical potential, when he finds spaces he is unstoppable, but if everyone is inside the area or in the final 20 metres it is difficult to find spaces.
I tried to find them by putting him on the right, but it became too emotional a game, I had no control over communication with the players. Too many people on the inside of the pitch, too many long balls.”
Finally, when quizzed about why Roma top Serie A’s expected goals table but have only the league’s ninth best attack, the ex-Inter coach shrugged away he question without hesitation.
“The answer you want, I won’t give it to you. It’s my fault, let’s stay like this.”
The Giallorossi are 6th in the Scudetto table, sandwiched between Juventus and Inter.
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