Mourinho had seen Roma problem coming: ‘He was right’

José Mourinho warned in November 2023 that Roma players ‘missed mum, dad and the grandmother’s dessert’ when playing away and the Giallorossi haven’t won away from the Stadio Olimpico since April last year.

Roma have not won an away game in nine months, and the team’s struggles far from the Olimpico were exhaustively explained by their former coach, Mourinho, more than a year ago.

“I think that away from home, we miss a little bit the mentality I’ve always had in my career, and I’ve enjoyed it so much,” Mourinho said at a press conference in November 2023.

“I liked away games with some teams more than home games because that band of outlaws enjoyed the agonism coming from away matches.

“In this team, somebody misses the home comfort when they go out. They miss the mum, dad, and grandmother preparing dessert…”

Claudio Ranieri’s Roma just lost to AZ Alkmaar in the Europa League on Thursday and are now preparing for another away meeting with Udinese on Sunday. The Bianconeri were the last team Roma beat away in April 2024.

Italian media have widely debated Roma’s problems away from the Olimpico and Mourinho’s assessment from last season.

Corriere dello Sport published an analysis of Roma’s ‘dramatic numbers’ away from home over the last year, while Sky Sport’s correspondent from the capital, Paolo Assogna, said on Saturday morning: “You’ll remember Mourinho’s words when he spoke about a group that did a lot in the Olimpico comfort zone but was quite immature away.

“The numbers say he was right. He’s always been excellent at assessing the group’s mentality and personality. Yet again, he understood the problem, which is now a talking point.”

Roma sacked Mourinho in January 2024. The Giallorossi have had three coaches since then: Daniele De Rossi, Ivan Juric and Ranieri.