Mourinho credits substitutions after comeback against Salernitana

Jose Mourinho was full of praise for some of the lesser used members of his squad on Sunday night, after Roma came from behind to beat Salernitana at the Stadio Olimpico.

Almost 65,000 fans were in attendance for the contest, as Carles Perez and Chris Smalling both found the net in the final 10 minutes to clinch the three points.

Here's what the boss made of the game...

Are you satisfied with what you’ve seen tonight – especially the last 15 minutes?

“They were a tired side out there. It’s not easy to play Thursday and then Sunday. I am sure that [Atalanta boss] Gian Piero Gasperini would say the same thing today.

“Especially when you are playing away from home, and so then you have to travel, then playing Thursday and Sunday is not easy. We managed to change the game by putting in fresh legs tonight. I made three changes in one go, if I remember correctly. In the second half we made changes that gave a bit more energy to the group.

“Salernitana gave it everything they had and more, with great honour and desire. But even for them it was always going to be difficult to maintain that level of defensive intensity for 90 minutes.

“In the end I think we deserved it, because we were the side that – even if we were not playing brilliantly – actually really wanted to win the game until the very end. But nevertheless they made it very difficult for us.

“As for the disagreements on the sideline at the end, they [Salernitana] are right and that is why it is up to me, as the man in charge on our side, to apologise for some of the words that were said.”

How important will it be to have a full stadium, like there was tonight, for Thursday’s game against Bodo?

“I say that perhaps our players need to take a bit more responsibility to deliver for our fans, because they are truly something special – it’s not like we are playing for the title right now. It’s really amazing.

“So to know that the stadium will be full on Thursday for a knockout game, it’s fantastic. Today I was really impressed by the effort from the Salernitana fans too, because their team are not in a great situation right now. But to come here in 5,000 or so to support there side is something special.

“Love and passion. That’s what it is.”

You didn’t think about making substitutions earlier, given the match on Thursday?

“Us coaches always think a lot. But sometimes it’s not so easy to make a decision – there is always the other side to things to consider. If we change too much and things go badly, then the coach always feels like he is to blame because he made those changes. So you think about a lot of things, but in the end you have to make a decision.

“Having five subs now is really very helpful. I am really happy for Carles Perez. He’s a good boy, who works really hard. A few times this season he has not really had a chance because of the system we are playing but today, in the situation we were in, with the qualities he has I put him in a really attacking position in a team that had nothing to lose.

“I’m genuinely delighted, because it’s a goal that change the game completely and gave us the chance to win it at the end.”

How pleased are you with the attitude Nicolo Zaniolo showed tonight?

“I’m pleased. I’m disappointed for him too, because he did well – really well, actually – in terms of changing the dynamic of the game, and he could have scored two great goals. For one of them, the goalkeeper I think gets a touch, and if he did then it is a phenomenal save. And then the other time it seemed certain to be a goal. But he did well for us.

“After the international break he came back with the injury, so he didn’t play in the last two games and hasn’t trained much. Today he showed in 45 minutes the strength and desire he has. That’s always really important to me.

“Jordan Veretout was back too and, even if he didn’t play much of the game, he gave the team additional quality. He replaced Cristante – who covers the ground over the course of a game like a madman – and made sure he added that rhythm to the team too.

"Today, for me, is a victory for the substitutes – those guys who came in off the bench.”

Don’t you still believe in the possibility of qualifying for the Champions League, at least a little bit?

“No, because Juventus are fourth and they are too good to squander the lead they have. It’s a great competition between fifth and eighth in the table – there is Atalanta, Lazio and us. Fiorentina are also there and doing great, a big win for them today against Napoli.

“So there is one race going on between the top four, and another with the teams fifth to eighth.”