Jose Mourinho is lamenting referees, transfers and squad depth; Has the Roma boss fallen into disrepair?

In his first press conference as Roma coach, Jose Mourinho insisted that he was no longer the figure that caused controversy after controversy during his two seasons in charge of Inter.

“I wouldn’t be the one looking for trouble,” he said. “I’m more experienced now. I’m more emotionally stable.”

However, no one really believes him and with good reason.

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As Marco Materazzi told Gazzetta dello Sport on the eve of Mourinho’s first on-field meeting with Inter since leaving the club for Real Madrid in 2010, “He’s the same as always. He doesn’t change. change.”

Indeed, Mourinho is as volatile as ever.

He even canceled his pre-marital press conference, presumably because he once again had bees in his bonnet about official employment.

Mourinho was not at all pleased with the way Luca Pairetto ruled Roma’s shock 0-1 loss to Bologna on Wednesday night.

The Portuguese was faced with a dilemma during the game, as Gianluca Mancini, Rick Karsdorp, Bryan Cristante and Tammy Abraham were all shown a yellow card following one-match suspensions.

As a result, there have been rumors that Mourinho could rotate his squad to ensure that some of his key figures are certainly available for Saturday’s game against Inter at the Stadio Olimpico.

However, the two-time Champions League winner has repeatedly – and publicly – assessed the strength of his team since taking over, most famously after a humiliating 6-1 Europa Conference League loss to Bodo. / Glimt.

Mourinho named a squad with a lot of changes for the game in Norway, so when things went pear-shaped, he said afterwards, “Perhaps now people will stop asking me why.” I always choose the same team. [in Serie A]. “

Given his lack of confidence in his players, perhaps unsurprisingly he chose to start with captain Mancini, top left-back Karsdorp and star striker Abraham at Stadio Renato Dall’Ara.

Unfortunately, the gamble backfired. Not only were Roma defeated, meaning they were six points behind the top four, Karsdrop and Abraham were eliminated.

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Mourinho was furious, later revealing that he felt compelled to pull Mancini off with 18 minutes left for fear the centre-back was also shown a yellow card.

He was also furious to learn that Nicolo Zaniolo had been forced to dive, with Mourinho’s anger implying that the much-coveted and talented attacker was not fully protected by Italy’s match officials. enough and should consider moving elsewhere.

“I want to say something that could go against my taste: if I were Nicolo Zaniolo, I would start to think that maybe playing in Serie A means everything is going to be pounding against me,” said Mourinho. said before cutting short the interview with DAZN.

His concern for Zaniolo’s welfare is certainly understandable.

The 22-year-old has suffered two major knee injuries in his fledgling career; he needs all the protection he can get.

However, skepticism suggests that this is one of Mourinho’s infamous attempts at distraction, a smokescreen used to conceal the fact that he is unable to bring out the player’s full potential. his most talented.

After all, Zaniolo is yet to score a goal or an assist in Serie A this season, which is a very poor reflection of his player and coach.

Mourinho can certainly do with the Italy international kicking his duck against Inter, in the absence of Abraham.

The England striker’s form has fluctuated since he arrived at Chelsea in the summer but goals have already begun to pour in ahead of a woeful trip to Bologna.

Abraham was just as upset with his booking as Mourinho was, even taking to social media to argue that he was the victim of a collision with Matthias Svenberg.

“I got a yellow card and missed the next game because of this … when I was the one being tackled and fouled.”

The bottom line is that Abraham will miss the visit to Inter, which is just one of a number of options headache for Mourinho.

“I’m going to have to invent a lineup,” he said on Wednesday night.

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His squad is definitely stretched. Mourinho may have joked when he recently said he could go to the Vatican to pray free of his injuries, but there’s no doubting the desperate nature of Roma’s current predicament.

Italian duo Lorenzo Pellegrini and Leonardo Spinazzola are both out until the new year, Stephan El Shaarawy is expected to be sidelined for another week, while Gonzalo Villar and Felix Afena-Gyan remain in self-isolation after contracted COVID-19.

To be fair, this is not the ideal time to face Simone Inzaghi’s Inter in high form, who are unbeaten in 11 matches in all competitions and won the last 5/6 matches in the league.

Thus, at least on paper, it looks like Mourinho will claim his first win as Roma manager this weekend, with the Giallorossi picking up just one point from their biggest games to date. , ahead of Lazio (2-3), Juventus (0-1), Napoli (0-0) and AC Milan (1-2).

Of course, it’s unlikely that he would suddenly turn last season’s seventh-placed team into Scudetto contenders.

As even Materazzi admits, Mourinho is five or six players short to be able to win the title. It is clear even before the season begins that reinforcements will be required in January and beyond.

Sporting director Tiago Silva told Sky Sport Italia: “When we started this project we all knew it would take time, and Mourinho even said a lot in his opening press conference.

“We’re not using it as an excuse for bad results, but because we really need time.

“I can’t say we’re satisfied, because we know we have to do better and the results last month have been terrible, but I’m confident with the work we’re doing and Mourinho’s leadership will bring. future results.

“This is certainly not the right time to doubt Mourinho’s project, strategy or leadership.

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“We have to improve in every transfer window but I have to say, four months later, I am sure that Mourinho is the right choice and I am sure that he will become one of the important coaches. greatest in the history of Rome.”

Pinto also insisted that nothing had happened to Mourinho regarding the club’s transfer policy, even going as far as to accuse the media of “trying to create some kind of confrontation between me and Jose. “

However, he could not be satisfied with Mourinho’s signing for Roma: “The club have worked hard over the summer, but it was more reactive rather than constructive transfer activity.”

Il Messnticro also claims that the owners, the Friedkin Group, are unhappy with the way Mourinho is said to have thrown players under the bus following the Bodo/Glimt incident.

Those who have followed Mourinho’s career are seen as a red flag, believed to be proof that he is reaching a crisis point in his coaching career at an increasingly rapid pace.

It took three years for his Manchester United tenure to become toxic, but less than 18 months in his final role, at Tottenham.

Mourinho was certainly in self-preservation mode.

“I have to protect myself here and keep my feelings to myself about what is happening,” Mourinho told Sky Sport Italia after a dismal defeat to Venezia earlier this month.

“Perhaps one day I will understand why certain incidents happen. There are things that are hidden for years and one day I will understand them…”

For now, however, he must fully focus on somehow getting a positive result after his meeting with Inter on Saturday.

If he doesn’t, expect him to find the problem again, like always.