Roma coach sat back and started praising everyone around him, including himself, for the upgrade in form of the club from the Italian capital. He went so far and sent a message to the public that this time next year – he will return the Italian club to the Champions League. The Special One assures that he will do what the American bosses brought him to Olimpico for.As per Mourinho, the first season was a kind of introduction to the project, and the next one should mean fulfilling their ambitions.”We want to return Roma to the Champions League, however, when you look at the investments of Inter, Milan and Juventus, you realize that three of the four places have already been filled. There is only one thing left, Atalanta got it last year, now Napoli are here, and I think we could attack that spot next year,” Mourinho points out.Progress is obvious. Roma may not be at the level of going after the Scudetto or competing with the best European teams, but on May 25, they will have the opportunity to win the first international trophy in three decades, in the final of the Conference League in Tirana, Albania where they will face Dutch Feyenoord.”We improved during the second part of the season, after corrections following the January transfer window. I am not as lucky as some other coaches to buy whichever player I want. I can only tighten the criteria and raise the standards and the quality. This was a season of work and development, in the next one, I believe, we will have a chance to achieve our goal.”🗣️ “We won together 3 titles at Man U, unfortunately the last 3 titles of Man Utd…. I wish the club all the best” Jose Mourinho was the last manager to win a trophy with the club and says he is disappointed that people mostly focus on the negativity 👇 pic.twitter.com/jP8cMxWaJG— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) May 11, 2022 And this season, one of the mainstays of Roma is Henrikh Mkhitaryan. He is especially interesting to the English public because he is working with Mourinho for the second time, after their episode together at Manchester United.”We won three cups together – the Community Shield, the League Cup and the Europa League. Unfortunately, these were the last three trophies of Manchester United. I emphasize, “unfortunately”, because I love the club and wish it all the best. The fact that we won the trophies, it means that we cooperated well.”The second season was a little different, but I’m most happy that people said at the beginning that Mickey has no chance to play with Jose and that I’m the type when, if something goes wrong, it can’t be fixed. We have proved them wrong. We were mature and honest with each other, in that period we also had conversations with Mino Raiola, God bless his soul.”##EDITORS_CHOICE##As much as the UK public is skeptical about the cooperation between Mourinho and Mkhitaryan, the Italian public is thrilled that the Armenian midfielder is playing like in Arsenal again. Maybe even better.”I always try to be honest with the players. I saw that I needed a player like Henrikh for the project in Rome, I realized how important Mickey is to the group, and the consequence is the fact that Armen has a great season. It allowed us to deal with the problems that arose based on the fact that we had a short bench. That is why Mickey played everywhere, he was also a “ten” and a winger, in situations when we were hit by Covid he was even a sweeper once, noting that he had never played in that position before.”I am happy that he succeeded, but at the same time I am satisfied that people realized that in my case, not everything is black or white. It is possible that I will have a different relationship with some football players than in the past.”One of the football players who is undergoing a transformation under Jose’s command is Chris Smalling. Roma are not the same team with or without an English defender.”We found balance in his body, which allows him to be on the pitch regularly. He is more experienced, he has the knowledge, and he always had the quality to play in the back line. He is playing a good season, I am happy with the level he has reached, he is a fantastic football player. In Italy he is called Smaldini – half Smalling, half Maldini. He is amazing!”25.05. Wed 22:00: (2.40) Roma (3.40) Feyenoord (3.15)The Romans could be even stronger after the upcoming transfer window as it is being speculated more and more that Nemanja Matić could travel to the Eternal City. Since the Serbian’s contract with Manchester United expires – Mourinho sent his invitation.”I never like to talk about players from other clubs. It’s not good for me, or for them, or for the clubs they’re in right now. Everyone knows my and Nemanja’s relationship, he is one of my most trusted people. We won together (at Chelsea), we fought together at United. He is a great footballer, but whatever I say would not be convenient for me or Matic.”Mourinho came to Roma last summer, it was considered a step back in his career, when it is known that he previously led Inter, Real and Manchester United, and he could stay until the end of his contract, which is signed until June 2024.”I have two more seasons left. Roma are not offering a new contract so far, so there is no talk about whether to extend it or not. Everything is stable and that is exactly how it should be. My task is to finish the season in the best possible way and look forward to the next one with maximum focus. I’m not asking for a change, people around me know that very well. I could not leave Olimpico before the start of the second season, I should not prepare something like that for the club. That’s why I will be here from the fall.”🗣️ “We won together 3 titles at Man U, unfortunately the last 3 titles of Man Utd…. I wish the club all the best” Jose Mourinho was the last manager to win a trophy with the club and says he is disappointed that people mostly focus on the negativity 👇 pic.twitter.com/jP8cMxWaJG— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) May 11, 2022 Despite speculation that he could return to the Island, as it was mentioned that the new Arab owners would gladly see him at St. James’s Park.”I understood what Newcastle is and how to love the club by watching it through the eyes of Sir Bobby Robson. I am really happy that he is finally a stable Premier League team. Eddie Howe is doing great, the new owners gave him the tools in January and I really wish him all the best,” added Mourinho.
