Jose Mourinho has justified his recent actions during Roma’s win over Udinese. The team secured a 3-0 victory at the Stadio Olimpico, with goals from Edoardo Bove, Lorenzo Pellegrini, and Tammy Abraham.
However, Mourinho made headlines when he stopped Pellegrini, the team’s captain, from taking a penalty.
Despite criticism from some quarters, the win ensured that Roma maintained their position in the top four of Serie A.
Bryan Cristante took the penalty instead of Lorenzo Pellegrini and hit the post, with Edoardo Bove converting the rebound.
Mourinho explained that he believed Pellegrini needed a break from the spotlight to recover his confidence, which led to the decision to take him off penalty-taking duties.
Bryan Cristante took the penalty instead of Lorenzo Pellegrini and hit the post, with Edoardo Bove converting the rebound.
Mourinho explained that he believed Pellegrini needed a break from the spotlight to recover his confidence, which led to the decision to take him off penalty-taking duties.
“He needed to win, to play without any pressure weighing on him for a missed penalty or recent performances that were not fantastic. There are reasons for that and we don’t always have to keep telling people that. He has my faith.
“My decision not to let him take the penalty was simply because he did not need that extra pressure. In fact, I told him if there’s a penalty for 2-0, it is yours, but if it is a decisive one, it is not for you today.
“If some comments on social media were negative after Feyenoord, the reality is what we saw today, face to face with the fans, understanding we are all together, in good times and bad,” Mourinho said.
Lorenzo Pellegrini has faced some challenges recently, including a missed penalty against Feyenoord that generated negative reactions on social media.
Nevertheless, the captain received continued backing from Roma’s loyal supporters during the Udinese game.
Despite the criticisms, Pellegrini remains a highly-regarded academy graduate among the team’s fanbase.