Jose Mourinho slams pundit Massimo Mauro after win over Cremonese

Roma boss Jose Mourinho fired back at pundit Massimo Mauro after the club’s win over Cremonese today.

The Giallorossi were 1-0 down for a fair amount of time in the game, but Paulo Dybala’s introduction changed things. Romelu Lukaku scored and Dybala scored from the spot later to seal a win and set up a quarter-final tie against Lazio in the Coppa Italia.

Pundit and former player Massimo Mauro had recently criticised Mourinho for ‘disrespectful’ and unprofessional tactics to win games and those comments came after Roma’s win over Napoli, who were handed two red cards.

After the win over Cremonese, Mourinho spoke to Mediaset (via TMW) about Mauro comments and he hit back, focusing on the difficulties faced by the side so far this season in the injuries department.

He said: “Is Massimo Mauro over there? No? It’s a shame. We need respect for our difficulties, I think no team in Italy has won a match without a single central defender, maybe yes but it’s difficult. We are all united and we always give our all maximum.”

He further stated: “For a former footballer not to respect people who have eaten from the same plate, like us, is not nice like that. There are commentators, those who understand and respect those who eat from the same plate as you. Indeed, it seems to me that even you can eat there. He will also come for money, as well as for his beautiful face.”

Roma have indeed faced multiple injuries this season, to a point where they currently have only one centre-back fit and that is Diego Llorente.

Kaustubh Pandey | GIFN