The win over Servette didn’t impress the management, the duel with Cagliari will decide Mourinho’s future in Rome

José Mourinho is probably past his prime. He is currently trying to reach another trophy on the AS Roma bench, but he hasn’t had the best start to the season with the team, and so speculation about his sacking has begun. The club’s owners gave the Portuguese a clear ultimatum.

José Mourinho took charge of the traditional Italian club in the summer of 2021. The task was clear, to win any trophy the club could enjoy the last time in 2008, when they won the domestic cup. Since then, the trophy cabinet has been empty. For 14 years the club has not won a single trophy, often not even playing European Cups.

All that has changed with the arrival of the Portuguese strategist, who is best known for the defensive side of his game. The 2021/22 season was the first in which the European Conference League was played, the third European competition after the unbeaten Champions League and Europa League. Mourinho came, saw and won.

The Italian side knocked out Bodo/Glimt or Leicester City on their way to a historic victory. In the final, Dutch side Feyenoord awaited him. The result?

No one will be surprised 1: 0. Nicolo Zaniolo scored in the first half and the game was over. AS closed all the windows in their defence and didn’t allow their opponents to do anything.

The European fairy tale could have had an even sweeter ending. Last season, the Portuguese motivated everyone and the train stopped only in the Europa League final at the sovereign of this competition, Sevilla.

When Paulo Dybala opened the scoring again in the first half in the final, it looked like the same story as last time. Unfortunately, Sevilla’s pressure increased in the second half, Mancini scored an own goal and only one of the three enforcers succeeded in the penalty shootout.

Serie A also brought an inglorious end. With five rounds to go, AS Roma were still warming up for the Champions League. Unfortunately, defeats to Inter and Fiorentina dealt the team a decisive blow, while draws against Salernitana and Bologna did not help either.

This season started like a nightmare for José Mourinho’s team. Out of the opening seven rounds of Serie A, AS Roma managed to win only twice. Especially the loss to Verona or Genoa is disappointing, if we add to that the draws with Salernitana. AS Rome has 8 points after seven rounds. This is one of the worst starts in the history of the club.

Logically, the clouds have begun to gather over the Portuguese, which did not go away even with wins in the Europa League against Sherif Tiraspol and Servette. The latest to join the party is Prague Slavia, to whom Mourinho sang odes.

However, whether he will see a duel with them as AS Roma coach will be decided by Sunday’s game against last-place Cagliari. The situation is clear, a loss means the end of the Portuguese coaching icon on the AS Rome bench.

Source: Serie A, AS Roma, Transfer News Live