AS Roma boss hails Mourinho ahead of Real Madrid clash: ‘One of the most decorated coaches of all time’

· MadridUniversal

AS Roma head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has praised Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho and highlighted the affection he continues to command among the Giallorossi supporters ahead of Wednesday’s UEFA Champions League meeting with Real Madrid. Mourinho spent two-and-a-half years at Roma coaching the team from May 2021 to January 2024. During that time, he […] The post AS Roma boss hails Mourinho ahead of Real Madrid clash: ‘One of the most decorated coaches of all time’ appeared first on Madrid Universal .

AS Roma head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has praised Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho and highlighted the affection he continues to command among the Giallorossi supporters ahead of Wednesday’s UEFA Champions League meeting with Real Madrid.

Mourinho spent two-and-a-half years at Roma coaching the team from May 2021 to January 2024. During that time, he led the Italian club to the UEFA Europa Conference League triumph and a UEFA Europa League final.

The Portuguese tactician built a strong connection with the fans at Stadio Olimpico and achieved a cult icon status before eventually being sacked by the club owners.

Gasperini praises Mourinho’s achievements

And, as he prepares to face his former employers , Gasperini, who is now in charge of Roma, stated that he expected fans to give Mourinho a warm welcome.

> “The fans have felt a great deal of affection for Mourinho. He deserves the recognition they will give him,” Gasperini said at his pre-match press conference.

Gasperini also paid tribute to Mourinho’s managerial career, having faced him several times while in charge of Roma and during their respective spells in Italian football.

> “He is one of the most decorated coaches of all time. If I had to learn something from him, it would be his ability to build relationships and persuade clubs to sign extraordinary players and spend large sums of money on them,” Gasperini said.

The Roma coach was also asked about criticism in Spain of Real Madrid’s playing style. He believes the team still need time to adapt to their changes but warned that their individual quality makes them a formidable opponent.

> “They are a team with enormous resources, and I think they can only improve with time. They remain an extremely dangerous side, capable of winning any match. In terms of the aesthetics of their football, there is certainly room for improvement,” he explained.

Gasperini believes the Champions League will provide a useful measure of where Real Madrid stand in comparison with their European rivals.

> “We will have to see how this Champions League campaign develops, as it will also help put Real Madrid into context,” he said.

Continuing, the Roma boss added: “When you have extraordinary players capable of deciding a match, you can sometimes lose a little collective solidity. At the moment, the team still need to consolidate their identity.

> “The Champions League will be useful for testing them against clubs that, at present, may look more like cohesive teams than Real Madrid, but do not possess the same talent.”

A different Roma under Gasperini

Gasperini also compared the Roma side he inherited with the team previously managed by Mourinho, emphasising that the two squads have different characteristics.

> “They are different teams, each with their own qualities. At the beginning, that Roma side had new owners who were heavily involved, with plenty of enthusiasm and significant investment,” he said.

Speaking about his current squad, he added: “This Roma team are growing. They are solid and convinced by what they are doing.”

> “Our attitude has taken us to this level of competition and helped us finish third last season. We have certain characteristics that we are not going to change. We know Real Madrid’s potential, but they are not the first top-level team we have faced,” he stressed.

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