Mourinho reflects on Genoa draw

Jose Mourinho was understandably aggrieved following Roma’s 0-0 draw with Genoa on Saturday evening.

The Portuguese coach saw his side pegged back despite a fine late goal from Nicolo Zaniolo – with VAR intervening to chalk off that strike too.

Zaniolo was then sent off for his reaction in the aftermath, compounding an already difficult day for the Giallorossi.

Here’s what the boss had to say after the contest…

What did you make of the disallowed goal?

“No, I don’t want to comment on that. I can talk about the game, but I won’t talk about the goal, the red card, or the reaction to the disallowed goal.”

Is there something you think should be looked at again?

“I prefer to avoid it. I prefer not to speak about the incident.”

Could you not have used the space more, given Genoa’s last game?

“Genoa are a side desperately fighting for points to help them stay up, and so that’s why they play the way they play. It was an ugly performance, but it was a performance that allowed them to bring a point home with them. So it’s not a criticism, because if I was in their position I would probably do the same. It’s hard to go up against a side that plays like that.

“In the first half we used the width but we didn’t find the spaces in behind – every time the ball got to Maitland-Niles or Karsdorp there wasn’t that move in behind, there wasn’t a clear way to progress the ball … the players were isolated.

"In the second half we changed that dynamic a bit, and we did that with the substitutions we made: we had a triangle on the right and one on the left too, and we created a lot more. We had a number of chances where we got to the point where the right cross would have led to a goal. We had lots of moments like that – like the one where Zaniolo took the ball and then fired over.

“In the second half, even when it was still 11 against 11 – although I didn’t notice much of a difference in Genoa’s approach even when they went down to 10 – we did everything we could to win. And I always think that the side that does more to try and win usually gets what they deserve. But, okay, we give credit to Genoa today because they played the game they wanted and came away with the point they wanted.”

Stephan El Shaarawy will be a handy option for the upcoming games…

“Today, for the first time, I felt like I had a substitutes’ bench that could help me to try and win the game. We didn’t end up winning, but I saw that we had different options available to us in order to change players and change tactics. Now we have more top-quality options on the bench.

“With Stephan and Felix [Afena-Gyan], one out wide and the other playing closer to Tammy [Abraham], we created some decent openings. But, having said that, we didn’t score – and the only one we did score was ruled out. I don’t want to judge the incident, because we could be here for 30 minutes or more talking about it and the various elements. There would be a lot to say.

“If the referee has made the right decision there, then our game, the game born years ago by the masses and then beloved around the world, has changed. Football is a different sport. If this is what the referees are supposed to do, if this is a foul, then the game is not the same any more. We need to change the name of calcio, football, soccer … because it’s another sport now.

“If, however, the referee has just got it wrong, and he really should have awarded the goal, then he will be the first one to be disappointed with himself and for us at Roma it will be a case of déjà vu – because this has happened a number of times this season.

“But, okay, that’s that and tomorrow is another day.”

Is the decision evidence of a changing sport? Do you think it is more option A or option B of the two you have just given there?

“I don’t know. I will also give you a third option: in the eyes of power, Roma are insignificant.”