Mourinho on ‘my finished Roma’, Chivu’s surprise and the ‘biggest lie in football’

TL;DR

José Mourinho praises Roma as the best place in his coaching career and expresses surprise at Cristian Chivu's transition to coaching. He also critiques the notion that playing style is more important than results, calling it 'the biggest lie in football.'

Key points

Mourinho praises Roma as the best coaching experience.
He is surprised by Chivu's coaching career.
Mourinho criticizes the focus on playing style over results.
He discussed his past with Roma, Inter, and Real Madrid.

Mentioned in this story

José MourinhoCristian Chivu

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Mourinho on ‘my finished Roma’, Chivu’s surprise and the ‘biggest lie in football’

José Mourinho says Roma is the ‘best place’ where he’s been in his coaching career, admits he didn’t expect Cristian Chivu to become a coach and insists that preferring the playing style over results is ‘the biggest lie in football.’

Former Inter and Roma coach Mourinho was full of praise for the Giallorossi and his ex-player Chivu, now the Nerazzurri boss, in his latest interview with Il Giornale (via Gazzetta).

Mourinho’s latest interview on Roma, Inter and Real Madrid speculation

Mourinho spent two and a half seasons at the Stadio Olimpico, winning the Conference League in 2022 and losing the Europa League Final in 2023. Just a few months later, in January 2024, he was sacked with just six months left on his contract.

“For me, it’s been the best place in my career. I’ve never felt such an incredible environment around a football team. The Olimpico was always full,” Mourinho said.

Mourinho was asked whether the pressure around the team in the capital is what makes it so hard for the Giallorossi to win trophies.

ROME, ITALY – JANUARY 10: Jose Mourinho, Head Coach of AS Roma, looks on during the warm up prior to the Coppa Italia match between and AS Roma at Stadio Olimpico on January 10, 2024 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)