Rossomando defends Mourinho tribute; Conflitti acknowledges both viewpoints

Michele Criscitiello, director of Sportitalia, has strongly condemned Roma supporters for the warm welcome they gave José Mourinho when the club faced Real Madrid at the Olimpico. The fans marked the occasion with songs and banners for the former manager who returned a European trophy to Roma more than 50 years earlier, but Criscitiello argued the display crossed a line. Criscitiello accused the fanbase of behaving like "a small club" by lavishing such an ovation on Mourinho for winning the Conference League, which he dismissed as "just a small cup". He contrasted the reception unfavourably with what Inter supporters had done to celebrate their treble, suggesting Roma fans had overstepped reasonable bounds. The criticism also extended to the current setup under Gasperini, with Criscitiello suggesting the excessive tribute to Mourinho amounted to a slight against the new coach. "An out-of-place welcome for Mourinho," Criscitiello said. "Roma won only a Conference, which is a little cup. You've shown yourselves to be a small fanbase—I could have expected an ovation like this from Inter for the treble, but for a little cup like the Conference League they've made Mourinho into a god. It makes no sense. 'Eternal Roma', for what? For winning the Conference? I'm astonished by a reception like this. Mourinho didn't even care—he took the three points and went back to the Bernabéu. Players and managers are mercenaries. A round of applause would have been enough. Instead you've shown disrespect to Gasperini, who is working his socks off for this team. You've proven you're a small fanbase and a small city, even abroad."

Michele Criscitiello, director of Sportitalia, has criticised the ovation Roma supporters gave José Mourinho before the Roma–Real Madrid match, arguing it was disproportionate to his achievements at the club. Criscitiello said the reception was inappropriate given that Mourinho won only the UEFA Europa Conference League during his time in Rome, which he described dismissively. He stated: "Roma has won only a Conference which is a little cup. You have shown yourselves to be a small fanbase—an ovation like that I could have expected from Inter for the treble, but for a little cup like the Conference League they made Mourinho into a god descended to earth. It makes no sense. 'Eternal Rome', for what? For winning the Conference…" Criscitiello also criticised Mourinho's response to the applause, noting that the manager appeared indifferent at the end of the match after taking the three points to return to the Bernabéu. He argued that such displays lack respect for Gian Piero Gasperini, the current Roma coach, who he said is working hard for the squad. The journalist characterised modern footballers and managers as mercenaries and suggested Roma's fanbase and the city had shown themselves to be small even on the international stage through the excessive welcome. Criscitiello concluded by saying: "I remain stunned by such a reception. Mourinho didn't even care. Adding insult to injury, he doesn't care at all—he takes the three points and returns to the Bernabéu. Players and managers are mercenaries. A simple round of applause would have sufficed. You have shown yourselves to be a small fanbase and a small city, even abroad."

Real Madrid came from behind to beat Roma 4–3 despite a poor display, scoring three goals from set-pieces in the closing stages. A performance widely criticised by fans and media for its lack of quality was masked only by the visitors' ruthlessness on dead-ball situations and Roma's defensive lapses. Sporting journalist Riccardo Trevisani was among the harshest critics, attacking Real Madrid's manager on the podcast Cronache di Spogliatoio. He said: "I saw a match devoid of logic. Real Madrid is a disgrace, it cannot be watched! The blame lies with their coach, who has a squad worth a billion four hundred million euros and lines them up like under-10s. Mourinho comes to Roma, hasn't even left and already Svilar breaks, then Koné and Dybala get injured. He has incredible luck, it's objective. That's how Mourinho wins, only that way." The collapse highlighted Roma's vulnerability to set-piece defending and their inability to control a match they initially dominated.