Roma will face CSKA Sofia in the first round of the group stage of the European Conference League. José Mourinho sat down with the press: “We have won 5 matches, not 50. There is no reason to be extra optimistic. The positive results are important because they help to develop our project. The supporters must remain balanced like us. We have been here just for two months. We could have easily lost against Sassuolo, but our ambition was non-negotiable. We must always have such characteristic.”
“I will rotate the squad a bit, but I will maintain the same structure. Nicolò Zaniolo is fine, and his injury is in the past. He was tired a few days ago. You lose something physically when you leave the club and practice with the national team.”
“Roma Players are intelligent and understand their role. The lack of minutes could be momentary, and playing time is fluid. Stephan El Shaarawy decided the last game off the bench, for instance. We need everybody, as we can not rely on just 10 or 11 contributors. Moreover, they are all responsible for the unity inside the locker room. My assessment is that there is good harmony in the group, and it is easy for me to be their leader.”
“Roma would like to win the Conference League, but there is a long road ahead. Serie A is clearly more important to us, but I want to build the right mentality. The next game must always be the most important one. We have been far from perfect thus far, and there is a lot to work on. We must stay humble. We are a work in progress, and if the fans understand that, it is a plus for us. In any case, they realize we are leaving everything on the pitch.”