23 May 2023 , 06:35
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A frosty Jose Mourinho claimed that his Roma side would need "more than a miracle" to finish inside the Champions League places - even after rivals Juventus were deducted 10 points.
Former Manchester United, Chelsea and Tottenham boss Mourinho failed to guide the Giallorossi to victory at the same time as Juve's punishment for alleged false accounting was confirmed by Italian football chiefs on Monday evening. Roma sit sixth in Serie A as a result, but they could've been just two points off fourth-placed AC Milan had they beaten Salernitana at the Stadio Olimpico.
Nemanja Matic's late equaliser could only salvage a 2-2 draw, meaning that Mourinho and co's best chance of returning to the Champions League is winning the Europa League final against Sevilla next week. Roma's managing director, Tiago Pinto, had previously stated that a top-four finish in Serie A was the club's target this season, but compatriot and colleague Mourinho vehemently disagrees, equating their chances to "Jesus Christ coming to Rome and having a walk around the Vatican."
"Who said the Champions League was an objective for Roma? I certainly didn't," the Portuguese told a post-match press conference, via Football Italia. "I always try to be honest, I don't like to sell hot air, I never said Roma were a candidate for the Champions League places.
"When you are competing against the teams in front of us, it would be irresponsible to talk about the Champions League. I never did that. The only thing I am fighting for in the final is the final. There are coaches, players, clubs who only play one European Final in their lives and feel lucky. We are playing our second in a row. This is for me a great season, it will be historic regardless of what happens."
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When pushed on Pinto's comments, Mourinho grew irritated, as he'd done on the touchline over 98 painstaking minutes prior. "That's his problem. We are friends, good friends, we can have different opinions," the 60-year-old declared.
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Jose Mourinho disagrees with Roma's managing director, Tiago Pinto (Fabio Rossi/AS Roma via Getty Images)"We can write history and want to continue doing it, but qualifying for the Champions League when spending €7million (£6m) on the transfer market is more than history, more than a miracle. It's like Jesus Christ coming to Rome and having a walk around the Vatican."
Mourinho was then asked whether disagreements with Roma's hierarchy were pushing him towards the exit door this summer. That prompted him to walk out and tell the room of journalists: "Goodbye. I'm going to have a two-day vacation and need to get a plane. Ciao Ciao."
Juventus played later on Monday night and suffered a humiliating 4-1 defeat to Empoli. Having sat prettily in second place heading into the third-to-last weekend in Serie A, Massimiliano Allegri and his team now look destined to go without European football whatsoever next term.