Roma manager Jose Mourinho previewed his side’s clash with Bodø/Glimt in the upcoming second leg of the Conference League quarterfinals scheduled for Thursday night.
“I haven’t seen any of my players under pressure in any of the three games we played,” said the Special One when asked about whether players were nervous ahead of a crucial game.
“The first game is a historic defeat for us. We had an exemplary behavior afterwards, having dignity and fair play that is not the norm – usually a person reacts in a negative way after a bad defeat but we reacted with honor.”
“Then in the two other games nothing too outrageous happened. What happened last Thursday is a situation out of context: the game was normal, as was the end, then there was a bad episode but completely isolated from the context of the actual match.”
“Tomorrow we want to play well. We want to go through,” he added.
“I expect a great match with an advantage for us: the stadium, with our people, which can play a role in motivating the team. We want to play football the way we do.”
“I expect the best one wins and I am convinced that we are the best.”
When asked about the contribution of players off the bench, Mourinho sounded rather optimistic, “The bench as a solution is very important, at this moment I think the opposite of what I thought in times of difficulty at the start of the season.”
“In times of difficulty there were fewer solutions, now there are 5-6 players with different qualities from the others.”
“With Salernitana without the bench it would have been impossible to win, I needed freshness and tactical solutions, I changed several players until I found the solution for a draw and to win the game.”
“Maybe tomorrow more changes will need to be made.”
On the fans attending the game:
“Even when there was 50% capacity, I was impressed to walk the route between Trigoria and the Olimpico and see so many people on the street.”
“The passion of the people for the clubs I coach always impresses me, which is why they become my clubs.”
“This makes you more or totally involved with the people. With 100% capacity, we are not playing to win the Scudetto, people come for passion. It is easier to come to the stadium when you fight for the Scudetto, this is pure passion.”
“For me it is a responsibility and the players must feel it. It is pure passion, on the pitch we must respond to this pure passion. “
