Roma boss Jose Mourinho has aimed a dig at Manchester City, while sending a very important message to the Giallorossi higher-ups.
This season, Roma have been troubled by injuries and the recent draw against Fiorentina saw two players pick up red cards, with both Romelu Lukaku and Nicola Zalewski now suspended for their offences. Injuries have also played a role in the sideโs inconsistent start to the campaign.
Mourinho, ahead of Romaโs Europa League clash against Sheriff, compared the Giallorossiโs situation to that of Man City and used the situation of Kalvin Phillips as an example. Chris Smalling is injured ahead of the game against Sheriff tomorrow and so is Gianluca Mancini, with Evan Nโdicka suspended.
He told the press: โIโm not jealous but the City spent โฌ80 million (actual price was much lower) on Phillips and now Pep sends him away and gets another one. We are a different reality and I would like 3/4 players but everyone would like this. We want to improve but we have difficulty doing so.ย
โIf we get a defender Iโm happy. I would like something more but itโs not possible, the management is working to give me options. But even with the defender who arrives we will have difficulty putting him on the UEFA list. There are difficulties and I would like people to understand this. I would also like honesty when it comes to goals.
He further stated: โThe important thing is that we know what we want internally. We canโt do anything more than have a center back who can help. Ndicka wonโt be there after January 3, Smalling wonโt be there, Mancini is injured, Llorente is resisting. We are in difficulty and letโs see if it will be possible to do something.โย
Roma have had difficulties not just with finances when it comes to transfers but also with registering players for competitions and while his comments do throw a shade at City and their free-spending approach, it is also indicative of how Serie A operates in a completely different reality.
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Kaustubh Pandey | GIFN
