Foti reflects on Mourinho era: 'He deserved a different farewell'
Salvatore Foti, José Mourinho's assistant during his time at Roma and now manager of Acireale in Italian football's lower tiers, has reflected on the Portuguese coach's time at the club in an interview with La Repubblica. Foti spoke warmly of the atmosphere under Mourinho, recalling the celebrations after Roma's UEFA Europa Conference League triumph and the mood following the subsequent defeat to Sevilla in a European final. Foti described an exceptional bond within the squad and backroom staff during Mourinho's tenure. After the Conference League victory, Mourinho took the wheel of the team bus and drove it around Trigoria, the club's training ground, before joining the squad and staff for an evening out in the city. Following the loss to Sevilla, Mourinho gathered the team in a circle and told them: "Nothing cancels what you have done. They have the medals, but without certain referee decisions you would have won." He added: "I'm not leaving, you and I are one thing." Foti said Mourinho told the staff he had been called to the offices at 8 a.m., where he was dismissed; many players wept. Foti stated: "He deserved a different farewell. For him leaving Roma was like leaving home—he often slept at Trigoria." On his relationship with Mourinho, Foti recalled: "We would have thrown ourselves into fire for him. Once during a match there was a row between me and Matic; it was José who made us patch it up straight away. He always appreciated my straight talking."
