Mourinho: ‘The Queen was a wonderful figure’

Roma manager Jose Mourinho was unimpressed with the Giallorossi’s performance against Ludogrets but took pause to pay respect to Queen Elizabeth II. Roma visited the Bulgarian side for their opening Europa League group stage match and slumped to a disappointing 2-1 loss.

Speaking to Sky Sport after the final whistle, Mourinho offered an honest assessment of the match and why he thought his team deserved better:

I’m not saying we played a fantastic game because it’s not true. But I find the result quite unreliable. The performance was enough to not lose the game.

We were the ones who had the highest number of chances. After Ludogorets scored, the next fifteen minutes became very difficult. There was a great reaction on our part, we find the equalizer, and then a minute later they score again.

It seems like everything’s going against us. Fortunately this was not an elimination match and there are still five games left to play.

Winning the first match always leaves you in a good position but now there is pressure. Next week at home we need to collect three points.

I don’t like talking about the defense department. It is the team that defends as a whole. To tell the truth, the second goal is a consequence of a team that thinks they don’t want a draw. It comes out of context. The truth is, it turns a draw into a defeat.

He also took a moment to pay his respects to the Queen who passed away shortly before the game began

“I am not a foreigner in Britain, it is my home, my family’s home, we’ve lived there for many years.

She was a wonderful figure. I don’t know anyone who didn’t have respect for her. She was a great lady as well as a Queen.”