AS Roma coach Jose Mourinho lightheartedly disregarded persistent hypothesis about taking a managerial function at Paris St. Germain, as his group prepares for the primary leg of the Europa League semifinal towards Bayer Leverkusen at dwelling on Thursday.
Despite speak of probably taking up the Ligue 1 membership from Christophe Galtier within the 2023-24 season, Mourinho reaffirmed his loyalty to Roma, the place he’s at present below contract till 2024.
“If they called, they didn’t find me,” Mourinho advised Sky Sport Italia on Wednesday earlier than the pre-match news convention.
Roma is about to confront a formidable problem as they go head-to-head towards Xabi Alonso’s squad on Thursday. Notably, Alonso performed a pivotal function in Mourinho’s success throughout their tenure at Real Madrid from 2010 to 2013.
Together, they clinched prestigious titles corresponding to La Liga, Copa del Rey, and the Spanish Super Cup.
During the news convention, Mourinho expressed admiration for the previous Spain worldwide, showering him with reward.
“I haven’t seen him for a long time. We’ve always had a fantastic rapport, more than between a coach and a player.”
Mourinho mentioned that the German group ranks amongst Europe’s most interesting when it comes to executing counter-attacks.
“They are very dangerous in this moment of the game, they defend, wait for the opponent to lose the ball and then it’s difficult to stop them,” he mentioned, emphasising the variety of swift attacking gamers in Alonso’s squad.
“He uses the style that suits his players more, five or six … of them could run the 100m with Lamont Marcell Jacobs at the Olympics.”
Despite Roma reaching the semifinals of a distinguished European competitors for the third consecutive season, Mourinho dismisses the notion that it places stress on the group.
“We have enough experience not to be too excited for being in the semifinals, and not to be too fixated on the fact that it is the first game and that it is played at home,” he mentioned.
Mourinho mentioned it was possible key striker Paulo Dybala and midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum won’t be within the beginning lineup as a result of their accidents.
“We’ll do everything we can to fully recover them but we must prepare the match regardless of their availability.”
The return leg will happen on May 18.
Source: sportstar.thehindu.com