WATCH: Jose Mourinho comes out in support of Sampdoria manager against racist chants during match
Racist jeers race around the Olympico in Roma's recent win
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Mourinho is not looking to stay in Italy for much longer(image via BR)
In AS Roma’s recent win over Sampdoria FC, the Giallorossi fans once portrayed a poor image of their country by shouting racial slurs directed towards the opposition manager, Dejan Stankovic, of Serbian origin. However, Roma coach Jose Mourinho took matters in his own hands and subdued the fans in an act of humanity that has sent the internet into meltdown.
Stankovic was a former player of Jose Mourinho’s and was also part of the star-studded Inter Milan team that won a historic treble in 2010, scoring an astounding goal against Genoa in the league that season. Talking about his action during the match, Mourinho said, “You don’t have to thank me, I did it for a great man and friend. I’ve been insulted many times and in different ways in the stadiums of this world, I’ve built a wall around me for protection and I’m sure Deki did the same. He’s a big man but he’s got kids and a family.”
However, as the head coach of Sampdoria, he was subject to racial abuse by the Roma faithful at the Stadio Olimpico in their league clash yesterday, with AS Roma manager, Jose Mourinho defending his former player. Stankovic reacted to the sending off of Jason Murillo in the 52nd minute, which prompted abuse from the Roma fans. The Portuguese manager’s efforts to calm the Roma support down were successful, and when the jeering stopped, he held up a ‘thumbs up’ sign as a thank you for their cooperation.
Roma may have eased past relegation battlers Sampdoria, but their next opponent Torino FC will prove to be a larger hurdle, sitting comfortably at 11th position in the Serie A. However, Jose Mourinho has shown that he has his mojo back and will be competing for the top-four spot.
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Serie A Top 4 Race Heating Up
Following AS Roma’s comfortable 3-0 victory over ten-man Sampdoria, they are now fifth, level on points with fourth-placed Inter Milan, who edged them out on goal difference. And with AC Milan’s emphatic 4-0 thrashing of league leaders Napoli, they are now a single point clear of their arch-rivals Inter.
Napoli seems to be the only team who have booked their spot amongst the European elite. However, teams all the way from Lazio in second to Juventus in seventh will be hoping to clinch a spot in the top four.
Despite Juventus’ points deduction earlier in the season, they are still well in contention for a Champions League position. Their next league fixture is against Lazio, and the Turin club would be fancying their chances away from home, having won their last fiv matches in all competitions.
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Arpan Ghosh
(1403 Articles Published)