In his interview with Federico Buffa and Federico Ferri on Sky Sport’s special program “Federico Buffa Talks,” José Mourinho shared the following thoughts:
Is there such a thing as “Mourinhismo” in Rome?
“There’s also ‘anti-Mourinhismo,'” added the coach, before continuing. “Both factions exist. People who know what I’ve done understand ‘Mourinhismo.’ ‘Anti-Mourinhismo’ is embraced by happy people during the time when Roma hadn’t won a cup, hadn’t achieved any kind of European success.
The ‘Anti-Mourinhismo‘ sells as well. But I have to say ‘Mourinhismo‘ is a way of living life rather than just a football concept. I say this because I meet people on the street, all over the world, who identify with me and my way of approaching life. For me, however, the most important game is always the next one. The rest is in the past; it’s history.”
Why did you choose to come to Roma? What makes this place special?
“When I arrived here, I didn’t know much about Roma. I had played against them with Inter, but I didn’t know Roma as a city with a footballing heart, nor the AS Roma club. I had coached three great teams in England—Man Utd, Chelsea, and Tottenham—and I wanted to move outside England.
Roma approached me with a proposal I liked, and it was the ownership that brought me here. Later, when I arrived and got to know the Roman passion, I learned about all their doubts and frustrations, and I tried to understand. I asked myself a lot of questions, which I needed time to answer. I’ve become very attached to the Roma fans. I like Romanismo. I like pure Romanisti, I like the fans who go to Trigoria in the morning just to get a photo. I like the people who follow the team everywhere.
When you reach two European finals and bring the city with you, when you cry tears of joy with them, you become even more one of them. That’s how I feel now; it was natural. When I’m on the bench and look to my right at the Olimpico, I still get emotional. When I look behind me, not so much, but when I look to my right, it gives me goosebumps. These are the people who will remain with me even when I leave one day.”
When you say “look behind me,” are you referring to the stands?
“Yes, but not only in Rome, it happens everywhere. Some go to drink champagne and eat, while others go to spend money. The others are simply football experts (Said with irony). Football is the most popular sport in the world; you can play it with a stone on the street. But it’s becoming a sport for the elite, not in practice, but in the people behind you. Those on the right and left (the fans in the stands) are truly in love with football.”
You’ve said that you’ll stay for another 6-7 months. Could it be longer, will you renew with Roma?
“I don’t know. Before Budapest, I promised the players that I would stay. After the Spezia match at the Olimpico, I gestured to the fans that I would stay here, and now I’m here, but what will happen after this season, I don’t know, I can’t say”
Is the coach a lonely figure?
“There are different ways to interpret your question. When you win, you have difficulty walking because everyone is with you. When you lose, you are alone. Of course, you have assistants who are always with you, there’s family, there are friends, but when you win, everyone loves you, when you lose, you are alone. This has been my experience for over 20 years.”
