Real Sociedad attacker Mikel Oyarzabal – one of the Spanish side’s top players – discussed various aspects of tonight’s match-up with Roma including their style of play and Jose Mourinho’s impact in an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport.
“I don’t agree with the opinion that Roma’s style of play is ugly. Real and Roma are fourth in the league, each with their strengths, qualities, style, which depend on many things: where you play, your opponents, culture and mentality.”
“Football doesn’t just boil down to how you play. There’s lots of ways of playing football and all of them are valid,” he added.
“Mourinho? A great coach who has a fundamental quality: passion. In football, results count in the end: when they don’t come, something else is needed, and Mourinho has an enormous passion that he passes on to everyone, players and fans.”
“He’s even more special now that he’s found a place where fans are just as passionate as he is.”
“Roma are a solid team in defense with great quality in attack and with very clear ideas. And then Mourinho was able to establish a great connection with the fans. The Olimpico is always full and it seems to me that there is always a great atmosphere.”
“In the last three games at home Roma have always won and without conceding any goals. The defeat in Cremona doesn’t matter, a bad day happens to everyone and Mourinho’s red card didn’t help in a moment of difficulty. And in fact afterwards they beat Juventus.”
“It will be tough for us,” Oyarzabal concluded. “I expect a balanced match and I’m happy to play the second leg at home.”
