AS Roma manager Paulo Fonseca is confident that his successor Jose Mourinho will do well at the Stadio Olimpico. On Tuesday, the Giallorossi, announced that Fonseca would be leaving his post at the end of the season, and a few hours later Mourinho was confirmed as the new Roma coach for the 2021-22 campaign.
“For me, professionalism is something I believe is very important.”
“I am OK, I am focused on things here just like I was the very first day I got here.
“I am motivated. I want to do the best I can for Roma for as long as I am still here. Mourinho is a great coach, everyone knows that, and I am sure he will do a great job here.”
Fonseca said before Roma’s Europa League fixture against Manchester United.
The Italian outfit have been struggling lately, racking up just four points in their last five league outings and were hammered 6-2 against Manchester United in the first leg semi-final of the Europa League.
“Clearly it is not easy to beat Manchester United by four goals – but I have seen a lot of things happen in football,”
“Nothing is impossible. I believe that anything can happen. I’m expecting a tough game. Going up against Manchester United is always very difficult.
“They have a good first-leg advantage but we want to win the game. We want to fight until the very end.”
he stated.
Fonseca, who joined Roma on a two-year contract in 2019 from Ukrainian side Shakhtar Donetsk, faced a tough situation at the club right upon his arrival.
The Giallorossi had missed out on the Champions League and were going through a difficult transition period following former sporting director Monchi’s mismanagement in the transfer market. His successor Gianluca Petrachi was also dismissed a few months later, and Fonseca found himself with a gruelling task to guide the club to continental football with fringe players at his disposal.
Although, the 48-year-old Portuguese coach managed to steer Roma to a European semi-final with some fascinating football – his performance in Serie A, especially against the big clubs, convinced the club’s new owners to appoint an experienced Jose Mourinho for next season.
The former Chelsea boss will be eyeing his second spell in Italy, having already won the treble with Inter Milan in the 2009-10 campaign.
“Thank you to the Friedkin family for choosing me to lead this great club and to be part of their vision,”
“After meetings with the ownership and Tiago Pinto, I immediately understood the full extent of their ambitions for Roma. It is the same ambition and drive that has always motivated me and together we want to build a winning project over the upcoming years.
“In the meantime, I wish Paulo Fonseca all the best and I hope the media appreciate that I will only speak further in due course. Daje Roma!”
the Portuguese told the club’s website.
Mourinho replaced Mauricio Pochettino at Tottenham Hotspur in 2019 and was sacked from his position last month after a string of mediocre results in the league saw Spurs struggle to reach the top-four spot.
The Special One will reportedly sign a three-year contract with the Giallorossa, who remain nine points behind sixth-placed Lazio – occupying the last Europa League qualification spot.
Roma have four games left in their league schedule and are probably on course to miss out on European football next season. However, they do have a bleak chance of Champions League qualification, but that would require a miracle at the Italian capital on Thursday night as Fonseca, and his men welcome Manchester United for the Europa League second-leg semi-final.
