Roma geared up for the weekend’s derby with a 1-0 win over Udinese on Thursday.
In a gruelling encounter, Tammy Abraham scored the only goal after being set up by Riccardo Calafiori.
Despite the result, it was not necessarily a performance that reflected what Roma are capable of – and things ended on a sour note when Lorenzo Pellegrini was sent off for receiving a second yellow card, which was highly contentious.
Here’s how Mourinho reacted to DAZN.
On Pellegrini’s red card and suspension for the derby
“I don’t know the legal mechanisms in Italian football, but if we can appeal, then we must try. I have many doubts that anyone could say that was a deserved second yellow card. If there’s a way of appealing this card, then we must do that and allow him to play on Sunday.”
On responding to defeat
“After defeat, the next game is always more difficult on an emotional level. I think the first 35 minutes showed more quality than we’ve had yet this season. We were in total control against a team that is very well defensively organised.”
On how things went in the second half
“After the break, we lost control of the match, but still played as a team. In the most difficult moment of the game, we stayed united, closed the spaces and pushed the ball out into the less dangerous zones.”
On managing expectations
“The directors need time too. Crazy owners don’t worry about the future, the kind we see all over Europe. These owners worry about tomorrow and the day after tomorrow, so this club must be sustainable and the fans must control their emotions and expectations, focus on backing the team, and I loved that.”
On the support
“In the short trip from Trigoria to the Olimpico, we saw and heard the fans are behind us, even after a defeat. That is important. We must continue dealing with our limitations and also our qualities.”
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