Portuguese coach José Mourinho has been in the news again after his absence from the media after the Champions League match against Villarreal. In the press room of the Olympic Stadium in Rome, the ex-Celta and ex-Chelsea player addressed the journalists to explain his position and prepare Real Madrid for the next duel with Roma, which will be played at 9:00 p.m. on the second day of the group stage.
Mourinho began by recalling that he trusts the competition's referees, but was uncomfortable with the decision that the referee for the match against Villarreal was known three weeks in advance, when normally the information is published 24 hours before. “I trust all the referees, but what seems strange to me is that it is known who whistles so soon,” he commented. When answering questions about the match with Villarreal, the coach chose not to comment, inviting the press to watch the first minute of the match to understand his point of view.
As for the next match, Mourinho emphasized the need to play with quality and take advantage of the motivation of Roma, which wants to compete in the Champions League again at the Olympic Stadium and has a public that "plays." "To get the points you have to play very well. They are an important rival. It is not yet the time for the pressure of the Champions League, of being in or out, but we put the pressure on ourselves," he stated. He also highlighted the importance of Roma as one of the strongest teams in Serie A and the need for Real Madrid to remain balanced and without doubts during the match.
The coach made reference to the position of Fede Valverde, who in the last game showed versatility by changing from full-back to midfield. Mourinho commented that the decision not to use Dumfries in the side was strategic and that Valverde “can make the difference.” Furthermore, he recalled that in the match against Villarreal, Real Madrid “found what we were looking for” and that the team's performance was satisfactory.
Finally, Mourinho underlined his commitment to the club and its fans, saying that the interests of the team and the fans always come before his own. “If you do something that makes them happy, even better,” he added. With his sights set on the next game, the coach concluded that Real Madrid and Roma have a chance of qualifying and that, before the game, the pressure is not that great, but the 90 minutes will be “normal.” His return to the Olympic Stadium is being prepared for the next day, with the intention of continuing to compete in the Champions League and, if possible, advancing to the final stages of the competition.