Jose Mourinho did not shy away after Lazio coach Maurizio Sarri claimed Roma ‘can afford a friendly’ in the Europa League days before the Derby della Capitale.
The Biancocelesti secured a tense 1-0 win over Feyenoord in their Champions League outing on Tuesday evening, giving them a slight boost ahead of Sunday’s derby with the Giallorossi. Roma face Slavia Prague in the Europa League this week.
When speaking to the media after the match, Sarri was asked about the fast-approaching derby against Roma and he suggested that Lazio’s two extra days of rest mean little when considering the importance of their respective European opponents, saying Mourinho’s side ‘can afford a friendly’.
Speaking in a press conference via TMW, Mourinho was asked to weigh in on Sarri’s statement and respond to the suggestion that his Roma were simply playing ‘a friendly’ compared to Lazio’s ‘war’.
If anyone should feel offended by his statements, it’s the people of Slavia Prague. I always respect my opponents, Slavia are a very good team and what makes the difference is the way they think about matches.
Maybe the difference between a coach who has won 25 titles versus one who has won a few is exactly this mentality, every game is played and there are no friendlies. Of his statements I’d like to hear the reaction of the league, it was a direct and objective criticism, so I’ll wait.
When these two teams met in the Derby della Capitale last year, Lazio beat Roma in both matches 1-0.
