José Mourinho has given an extensive interview to Corriere dello Sport ahead of Real Madrid's Champions League visit to Roma, reflecting on his time as the club's manager and the bond he built with the supporters. The match is scheduled for Wednesday at the Olimpico.
Mourinho recalled his arrival in Rome, describing how a thousand supporters met him at the airport before he had played a single match or won a point. "They are special with me," he said. "I have always said: when I got off the plane there were a thousand people waiting for me. I thought I hadn't done anything yet, hadn't won a match, hadn't taken a point. I didn't deserve that welcome. But Rome is like that; I felt it afterwards. They understood that I never worried about myself, my image. I never looked after my relationship with the ownership, with the club's politics, with the press." He noted that in three and a half years he has granted interviews only to journalists with whom he has a relationship, citing Corriere dello Sport as an example. Mourinho also reflected on winning the UEFA Europa Conference League, saying: "It's true we won a competition that for a club that wins everything has lesser value, but for one that is not used to winning it has great significance. The other day a friend who is an agent went to Trigoria and saw the photo of the achievement. That cup is always there."
Mourinho addressed comparisons to Francesco Totti, saying: "I do not feel at all comparable to him, nor the second in the hearts of the people. Roma has a beautiful history despite few moments of glory." He spoke of his emotional challenge in returning as an opponent: "I have not yet started to prepare that match. I know from the point of view of the manager who must play an important game, and that of the man returning home. But I must defend myself from emotions. I prepare myself as best as I can to do my job well. I must concentrate on this, trying to forget where I am and against whom I play. It never happened to me with Roma, with Inter yes. With Chelsea it happened many times. But Roma is Roma." He reflected on the eighty days of lost contact with the Friedkin ownership after the Budapest final, stating: "I had to pay for what happened at the airport. I paid for the relationship with the ownership that had a different profile from mine, a different approach. But I never spoke, never publicly commented on the situation."
Mourinho explained that when he sits on the bench on 14 October, "another story will begin and I will be only Real Madrid." He added that while Roma have the capacity to win the treble this season, "naturally I hope not."
Story Coverage3 sources on this story
José Mourinho has reflected on his emotional return to the Olimpico as Real Madrid manager, describing a bond with Roma supporters that transcended football. All three outlets confirm that Mourinho will face his former club on 14 October, and that he arrived in Rome to a thousand fans waiting at the airport despite having achieved nothing yet for the club. He emphasized that Roma's supporters "understood that I never worried about my image" or club politics, instead fighting solely for them and the Romanisti. "I gave everything of myself and in return I received their love," Mourinho told Corriere dello Sport.
The outlets agree that winning the UEFA Europa Conference League represented the peak of Mourinho's connection with Roma fans, describing it as a major achievement for a club unaccustomed to frequent honours. However, they differ on how prominently to frame the aftermath. Il Messaggero emphasizes that Mourinho "paid for the relationship with the ownership, which had a profile and approach different from mine over what happened in the final," and notes he was "already dead" before departing. Forza Roma provides additional context, stating that UEFA disciplinary action followed the Budapest final, and that Mourinho believes he should "only pay for" insults in the garage, not other incidents involving Taylor at the airport.
On his upcoming return, Mourinho struck a cautious tone across all coverage. He acknowledged the emotional challenge of facing Roma as an opponent while emphasizing his professional duty to Real Madrid. "I must defend myself from emotions," he stated, adding that this reunion differs from his earlier returns to Inter or Chelsea. Mourinho resisted comparisons to Francesco Totti, calling him "untouchable," while maintaining that Roma "will always be my home."
AI synthesis of all sources below — always check the originals.
Testo Originale / Source Text
“À pochi giorni dall’incrocio di Champions League tra Roma e Real Madrid, José Mourinho ha rilasciato un’ampia intervista esclusiva al Corriere dello Sport. L’ex allenatore giallorosso ha ripercorso le tappe della sua avventura nella Capitale, ricordando il legame profondo costruito con la piazza…”
Read the full article in Italian at Roma News.
