Portuguese coach José Mourinho and French midfielder Enzo Tchouaméni met in the press room of the Olympic stadium in Rome before the Champions League duel against Real Madrid, scheduled for Wednesday at 9:00 p.m. The meeting, broadcast live, was Mourinho's first public appearance after the weekend match against Villarreal, where the Madrid team was frustrated by referee decisions that the coach described as damaging.
Mourinho, who returned to the city where he won the Conference League and reached the Europa League final, described Rome as a “special” place and expressed his excitement at competing at the stadium again. Regarding preparation, the coach stated that the team is “great” and that the pressure of the Champions League is felt both on and off the field. Despite the tension, Mourinho maintained a professional attitude, stressing that the interests of the club and the players always take precedence over his own.
In the interview, Tchouaméni spoke of the collective frustration with the arbitration decisions, although he avoided going into details. Both shared the vision that the match against Real Madrid is an opportunity to demonstrate Roma's quality after their 0-0 draw with Fenerbahçe and the 2-1 victory over Inter at the Bernabéu. The French midfielder also highlighted the importance of remaining calm and focused, pointing out that the team must “play very well” and take advantage of the motivation of its fans to advance in the competition.
The topic of referees came up repeatedly in the conversation. Mourinho expressed his distrust when the referees meet at short notice, and Tchouaméni agreed that communication with the refereeing authority in Spain is usually not very direct. Both stressed the need for referees to act with transparency and for the match to be played without unjustified interruptions.
With the match just around the corner, Mourinho concluded that the main objective is to win the match and advance to the quarter-final stage, although he also showed interest in the possibility of Roma reaching the semi-final stage. The coach recalled that the team has demonstrated its ability to compete against the best Italian teams and that, with the proper preparation, they can surpass Real Madrid. The next step will be the Champions League matchday, where Rome will try to consolidate its position in the table and continue seeking European glory.