Mourinho: “Happy with our football and our character”

This is what he had to say...

Roma played with character today but seemed to be lacking the end product.

“That's right. We spoke about that before the match. We actually created more than you'd expect against Juventus's wall. Because they are like a wall when they defend. They've very compact and very difficult to break down.

“In the first half when it was 0-0 we played the better football. We hit the woodwork and carved out two or three dangerous situations. We caused Juventus a lot of problems strategically with the position of Paulo [Dybala] and [Edoardo] Bove fanning out to the left away from [Federico] Gatti.

“There weren't many goals because against Juve if you defend with a low block they find it hard to create opportunities too.

“At the start of the second half we conceded after two deflections from what I could see and then it obviously becomes a whole lot more difficult. They sat deeper and formed their wall with players who excel in that sort of scenario. It's a real shame because the result could have been very different.

“In any case, considering what we prepared for on a tactical, strategic level, I'm very happy with our decision-making and the character we showed. But obviously when you lose, it's the points you're interested in.”

In your head-to-head matches away from the Olimpico in 2023, Roma have looked like a different side – more emotional. Have you figured out why that is?

“Obviously we're better at home but I don't think that only goes for us. Any team with a great home crowd knows it makes a difference. When you talk about Roma, you have to talk about Roma with respect for what we're doing, as coaches and players; for the work we're doing with the difficulties we have.

“As for our away form, I'm the first to admit we lack a bit of character and struggle to impose our own brand of football. But in actual fact that wasn't the case today. We played with great courage against a team fighting for the title that was even more motivated after Inter's result yesterday and is incredibly strong defensively.

“We were the better side in the first half. The goal changes things of course but in the first half Juve were struggling. After the goal, there was less psychological pressure and they felt comfortable playing that way. We had lots of the ball and lots of build-up play in the final third without really creating much of note, although I thought Paulo's shot from outside the box was a great chance to score. That was the second half. I don't even want to talk about the first half. Bryan [Cristante] also had a shot that seemed to be heading for goal.

“I'm happy with the way we played and our character but it's only the result people are really interested in.”

It's a shame to lose Evan Ndicka as he seems to have come on loads.

“That's exactly right.”

Will you get a new defender at the start of January?

“Let me say that I'm very, very pleased with the improvement Ndicka and [Rasmus] Kristensen have shown. I think Kristensen was there in the lead-up to the goal, with the deflection, and Ndicka was perhaps in an onside position rather than offside, but seeing the way these two lads have progressed makes me very proud as their coach. Of course it's a shame we're going to lose Ndicka now. It also makes me feel proud to see Bove coming here and playing in this stadium with the confidence he showed.

“There are lots of things that make me incredibly proud of the work we're all doing together. As I said, the result is what matters and it could have been different. I think we deserved a different result but the truth is it finished 1-0 so it's three points for Juventus and congratulations to them.”

But will you get the defender you're after in January?

“I don't know. I couldn't say. At the moment I'm thinking about our next match against Cremonese, when I think we'll be without Ndicka and without a new defender. We'll make do with the players I have available. It's a match we obviously want to win."

What's your resolution for 2024, to get into the Champions League?

“To be happy and to make others happy. If we manage it, it will be something incredible, for the condition we're in and the restrictions we have. But as I've said before, if you don't dream, you never get anywhere. We're dreaming and working hard to achieve it.”