Mourinho given warning by Capello over Roma job: ‘Rome burns everyone’

Martin Macdonald

• Updated: 23 May 2023 08:39 CDT
• 3 min read

Jose Mourinho has been given a warning of the pressure to expect as Roma boss by legendary coach Fabio Capello.

Just a couple of weeks ago Mourinho was sacked as manager of Tottenham after an underwhelming period in charge following the tenure of Mauricio Pochettino.

READ MORE: Mourinho Bingo: How Jose’s media playbook works

Though the Portuguese suggested after he could take some time away from the game, he has already found a job for next season, with a return to Serie A confirmed with Roma.

Mourinho previously coached in Italy to huge success with Inter, guiding them to the treble in 2010 which including a Serie A win, the Champions League, and the Coppa Italia.

He failed to make an impact at Spurs and has a reputation to rebuild, but Capello has warned that the Italian capital is not an easy place to ply one’s trade.

Capello on Mourinho

“Rome burns everyone. It is the most beautiful city in the world, but also a place where it is extremely difficult to work in football,” he told Gazzetta dello Sport.

“There is not a lot of patience, contrary to popular belief. The reason for a defeat is often not evaluated. The key to everything is having a solid staff and creating a group of players who are behind the coach.

“A united group against everyone and everything. That is what I did. Then, obviously, the club is fundamental: the coach must always be supported and they must prevent anyone from taking advantage of difficulties behind the scenes to stoke dissent.”

Having recently failed in the spells with Manchester United and Spurs, there has been suggestions that Mourinho is not the elite coach he once was, but Capello has disputed these claims and believes Roma have appointed one of the best around.

“It is (a) very impressive appointment that has immediately sparked enthusiasm in Rome,” the former Roma, Inter and Milan coach insisted.

“There are no more excuses. Roma have a coach, a number one, a professional who has won and has experience.

“You need to look at the results and you can’t hide from three sackings, but he is a man of enormous intelligence and I am convinced that his desire to be a protagonist again will be decisive.”