Jose Mourinho will not be on the bench at the Stadio Olimpico: he will serve his second game of suspension after being excluded at Cremonese (2-1) on February 28 for vehement protests. He will miss a decisive appointment for his Giallorossi, 5th to two points of the Biancocelesti (3rd), in the battle for the Champions League.

Unhappy with his suspension, "Mou" remade on social networks his famous gesture of "handcuffs", which he had made famous during a match in February 2010, while he was coaching Inter Milan, to castigate refereeing decisions. Even if, this time, he also took the opportunity to promote a watch and a bracelet.

Already absent on Sunday against Sassuolo (defeat 4-3), he received the support of the Roman fans with many banners and white handkerchiefs waved in the Olimpico.

Welcomed as a rockstar upon his arrival in the Eternal City in the summer of 2021, the 60-year-old coach remains the idol of the Romanisti tifosi and his name is proclaimed at the top of his lungs at every game.

Already three reds

Last season's victory in the Europa League Conference, Roma's first title in 14 years, helped fuel that passion, despite La Louve's regular "days without" in the league.

But sparks are becoming more frequent, often fueled by the person concerned. True to himself, the former coach of Real Madrid, Manchester United or Chelsea makes sure to maintain a permanent tension, in a proven tactic to weld his players around him.

Tension with the referees, of course, a recipe that he tends to abuse with already three reds this season, synonymous with five missed matches on suspension.

"We need more respect, today it seems that we did not have the right to play to win," he said last season, in one of his frequent outings to referees.

AS Roma's Portuguese coach Jose Mourinho (L) gives instructions to Dutch midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum, during the Europa League quarter-final first leg against Real Sociedad, in Rome, March 9, 2023 © Alberto PIZZOLI / AFP/Archives

And it is not uncommon, in matches, to see the entire Roman bench stand up to protest or the players surround the referee in number, as if electrified by their coach.

Mourinho, usually very protective of his group, has also attacked some players this season.

In November, after a draw, he accused Rick Karsdorp of having "betrayed the efforts of everyone else". The Dutch full-back then disappeared from the group until February, finally reinstated for lack of having found a club in the winter transfer window.

City for Portugal

The last weeks of cohabitation with Nicolo Zaniolo have also gone badly: the Italian international had been dismissed before finally leaving at the beginning of February to Galatasaray.

The new target of the Portuguese coach was, in February, the public of the Olimpico, a stadium that is full at each match (about 65,000 spectators).

Not having appreciated some whistles aimed at some of his players against Hellas Verona (1-0), "Mou" had felt that "people do not give enough credit to those who deserve it for the work we are doing, in difficult conditions".

These frequent warning shots are beginning to raise questions about the desires of Mourinho, under contract until 2024.

"I could leave in December and I stayed," he said in early February to ensure that his intention was not to leave earlier, while his name has often been mentioned for the position of coach of Portugal.

RB Salzburg's German coach Matthias Jaissle (r.) and AS Romz's Portuguese coach Jose Mourinho (l) shake hands before the second leg of the Europa League between AS Roma and RB Salzburg, in Rome, February 23, 2023 © Filippo MONTEFORTE / AFP/Archives

But a few weeks later, he refused to be more specific about his situation at Roma: "I will speak at the end, I have a lot to say."

© 2023 AFP