With Roma set to face Sheriff Tiraspol in the opening game of their Europa League campaign, Jose Mourinho has spoken to the media. After a poor beginning to the season for the Giallorossi, they recorded a comprehensive 7-0 victory against Empoli at Stadio Olimpico over the weekend.
In his press conference, the Portuguese boss spoke about team selection, last year’s final in Budapest and on opponents Sheriff:
On whether Paulo Dybala and Andrea Belotti will start: “If the objective of the question is to know who plays tomorrow… I don’t want to say who plays tomorrow. Karsdorp plays and plays because Kristensen can’t play and because without Smalling our fourth defender is Celik , I need a defender on the bench. Mancini, Llorente and Ndicka will play and I need a defender on the bench which is Celik. If you ask me the question to know who plays, I won’t answer the question. If you ask me the question to understand what I like, I like to have two attackers where one is more of a first striker and one who has more creativity. By nature I like it better this way.”
On last year’s final in Budapest: “It’s a different season than last, a different competition than last. I will continue to say until the last day of my career and even after we didn’t lose the final in Budapest. We didn’t lose the final in Budapest. Now let’s start from scratch. Today the goal is to qualify for the next phase. Last year we started with a defeat which then created difficulties for us in qualifying and we played in the playoffs against a Champions League team, which is not easy for a team like ours. Winning the group would be important”.
On opponents Sheriff: “We have respect for all opponents. We lost two years ago 6-1, a match that should have been won, we lost last year against Ludogorets and we know that it is never easy to play in Europe, especially away. We play against the opponent, against the public, against a special motivation. His coach said the goal is to qualify. We also play against history, Sheriff did incredible things in the Champions League a few years ago. It’s not an easy match, we’re playing against a strong team.”
