Jose Mourinho believes his Roma side were in control of the game in their 2-0 win over Real Sociedad, but warns it will be a ‘dangerous’ match at the San Sebastian. The Giallorossi weathered the early pressure from Sociedad and took the lead through a great counter-attacking goal from Stephan El-Shaarawy, before Marash Kumbulla added a second late in the match to seal the result.
Speaking in his post-match presser (as quoted by Romapress), Mourinho expressed the importance of the team playing as one unit, while highlighting the added bonus of having two fresh full-backs available for the match:
“After scoring 2-0 we were good at controlling the match. Our strength? All the lads on the pitch, as a team. We can talk about the goalkeeper, the defenders, but I don’t know a team that defends well only in the back and not as a team.”
“When I see my team, from top to bottom, I see how the team works. For example, how Dybala works in the defensive phase says it all.”
“We know our limits, but even those we turn them into strengths. This result is good, but only if we don’t concede three in the second leg. I never say after the first leg that it’s an excellent result.”
“We played with two fresh fullbacks and both did well. El Sha knows how to score, he had plenty of pace in his legs. He scored in an action that we had prepared beforehand. We trained well and prepared the match well to create difficulties for the opponent.”
“I’m happy with what the boys have done tonight, I can’t ask for more. However, we now have a dangerous week because we are tired, we will also play against Lazio and the city is ‘dangerous’ in this sense. In Spain it will be a difficult match and two days later we will play in the derby.”
“It wasn’t easy because we didn’t have too many options up front. When El Sha plays as a fullback, then I’m forced to move him forward when he’s tired. The mentality of these guys is fantastic.”
“We are organised, we analyze the opponent well and we do what we can. I’m comfortable after defeats and victories, I’ve learned that with experience. Next week is dangerous. It will be dangerous in San Sebastian.”
“Then playing against Lazio could be considered the same as playing against Milan, Juventus and any another opponent, but that’s not the case in this city. I don’t want to go to San Sebastian thinking about the derby, if we do that we lose.”
“They are strong, they have quality and creativity, we have to go there with everything we have. This is only the first half, the second half is still missing.”
