Roma boss Jose Mourinho has defender Sampdoria manager and his former player Dejan Stanković after the Giallorossi beat the Genoa-based side by a 3-0 scoreline.
Stanković is said to have been booed and often racially abused by Roma fans during the game possibly because of his previous links with Inter. Despite his side’s valiant efforts, Sampdoria lost 3-0 and remained 19th in the table, four points away from 18th placed Verona.
Mourinho spoke to DAZN (via TMW) after the game and he addressed the crowd’s reaction to his former player and he protected Stanković from the abuse and boos. Stanković had reacted to Jeison Murillo sending off and that had drawn abuse from the Giallorossi fans.
The Portuguese stated: “You don’t have to thank me, I did it for a great man and friend. I’ve been insulted many times and in different ways in the stadiums of this world, I’ve built a wall around me for protection and I’m sure Deki did the same. He’s a big man but he’s got kids and a family.”
Paulo Dybala, Gini Wijnaldum and Stephan El Sharaawy had scored for Roma, who now find themselves at fourth in the table. A win for Milan could make sure that they go back to fifth but they are already in the quarter-finals of the Europa League, having been knocked out of the Coppa Italia already.
Kaustubh Pandey | GIFN
