Despite Roma beat Helsinki 3-0 at home earlier tonight, Jose Mourinho once again reiterated the need to improve the team’s attacking display as the Giallorossi continue to underperform on the pitch with the chances they create.
“We were too passive in the first half,” the Special One told Sky Sport after the match. “We were playing in eleven over ten but you could not tell the difference.”
“In the second half we changed our attitude and it went well. We pushed ourselves to score a goal or two straight away and then we just decided to keep attacking. Pressing high and maintaining an offensive mindset.”
“I’m sorry for Helsinki. They had started well, then went down to ten men and struggled because of it. The VAR, however, made the correct call. They are a very organized team.”
“This match cannot be a point of reference, because we played 11 against 10. Obviously Zaniolo is important for us, he has depth, he can play in defensive transition, he presses, he takes on his man.”
“But I refuse to say that this is an extraordinary match, because we played with one more man for 70 minutes, it is not a match.”
“We also need to improve in building from the back. We have this difficulty, I try to hide it. We have super talented players up front, but we have to play meaner. We have to be mean when it comes to the attack.”
“You must be mean and nasty if you want to put the ball into the back of the net.”
“Belotti also seems to be suffering from this disease we have up front, today I saw him do 4-5 heel touches. This is not him. He has to score, with his knee, with his ass, with his head. He has the virus of a playmaking wizard, whereas he just needs to score. That’s it.”
“We need to improve in terms of execution, the average of shots and goals made is not good.”
“Now we will have two games with Betis, which are a very strong team, and in these two games I think the group stage will be determined.”
