AS Roma players were ‘unaware’ of the club’s decision to sack Jose Mourinho when they arrived at training on Tuesday, according to reports in Italy, as details continue to emerge about his departure.
Mourinho was sacked by the Serie A side on Tuesday morning after a two-and-a-half year stint in charge at the Stadio Olimpico.
Roma’s American owners, Dan and Ryan Friedkin, were said to be ‘highly unhappy’ with results under Mourinho this season, according to a report in Calciomercato via Football Italia.
The Italian side, who currently sit ninth in the Serie A table after picking up eight wins from a possible 20 games, have lost four of their last seven fixtures in all competitions.
Mourinho was thanked for his “passion and efforts” by the American owners after a spell that featured a Europa Conference League win in May 2022.
They added: “We will always have great memories of his tenure at Roma, but we believe that an immediate change is in the best interests of the club. We wish Jose and his assistants all the best in their future endeavours.”
Dan Friedkin travelled to Rome from the United States to inform Mourinho and the AS Roma squad about his decision, according to Sky Sport Italia.
And an hour after the statement was made official, Jose Mourinho’s assistant Salvatore Foti was said to be ‘nearly in tears’ when he arrived at the club’s training ground in Trigoria.
Roma legend Daniele De Rossi will take Tuesday’s training session, according to the report. In fact, the former midfielder is set to be named as Mourinho’s successor.
Meanwhile respected Italian coach Fabio Capello has said the American owners of the club acted with disrespect.
“It seems to be that these American owners have a strange way of handling things, with no respect for those who work for them. They are disrespectful because we saw how [Paolo] Maldini was sacked with a phone call, and now they did the same with Mourinho, who was at Trigoria and was told that he was no longer in charge. Capello told Sky Sports Italia.
“There is no sensitivity around there; there is business. They are the owners, and they decide, but I believe in something more, in a certain sense of respect for those working with you, saying goodbye in a different way rather than with a cold statement or a cold call [would have been better].”
He added, “I didn’t, especially in this way. It was clear that they weren’t on the same page. Mourinho had had some requests but received no answers, and this was already a signal that things were not working. I feel Mourinho was treated like somebody who had never coached a team, in a very disrespectful way for a coach who has given a lot to world football, not only European. It’s an attitude that is unconvincing and which I don’t accept.”
