José Mourinho has described his time at AS Roma as "the most beautiful place" he has worked in his career, in a candid interview with Italian newspaper Il Giornale. The former manager, who was dismissed by the Serie A club in January, also offered his views on Italian football, the national team, and his former player Cristian Chivu, now on the brink of winning the Serie A title as Inter Milan's coach.
Mourinho, who led Roma to the UEFA Europa Conference League title in 2022, cited the incredible atmosphere and unwavering fan support as defining features of his tenure. "I have never felt such an incredible environment around a football team," Mourinho said, according to the interview. He strongly defended the Roma supporters, stating, "No one should blame the Roma fans saying it is their fault if you don't win. The Giallorossi fans are the ones who help the team, no one must touch them."
When pressed on Roma's current situation under successor Daniele De Rossi, Mourinho declined to comment in detail, stating simply, "My Roma is over." He did, however, revisit his frequent clashes with officiating during his time in Italy, clarifying that his battle was "against the system, not the referees." He suggested Italian football is not uniquely problematic but is periodically subject to investigations and clean-ups.
The Portuguese coach also commented on the success of his former Inter Milan player, Cristian Chivu, who is part of Simone Inzaghi's coaching staff at the Serie A leaders. "I am happy for Chivu that Inter can win the scudetto, even though when I coached him I would never have thought he could become a coach," Mourinho said. He praised Chivu's path, noting he "studied and did his apprenticeship" rather than being anointed, and criticized a modern trend where some are hired because "they know how to sell themselves well."
On the topic of the Italian national team, Mourinho dismissed the idea of a foreign coach taking charge. "You don't need a foreign manager, you can't have Ancelotti, okay. But you have Allegri, Conte and I could name another five or six," he stated. He urged Italy to rethink its footballing foundations, praising the organization of youth tournaments in nations like Portugal as a model. He also suggested Giovanni Malagò, president of the Italian National Olympic Committee, could be a figure to drive change.
Looking ahead to this summer's Copa America and the 2026 World Cup, Mourinho said he would like Portugal to win but highlighted the threat of Carlo Ancelotti's Brazil. He described Argentina as a "real team, united, compact" and noted France's depth. Of the World Cup, he quipped he might take a holiday until the quarter-finals, suggesting many teams attend "only to lose" and that the real competition begins at the last-eight stage. Mourinho concluded by stating his immediate goal is to qualify Benfica for the Champions League, a club he has been strongly linked with in recent months.
