ITALIAN JOBS Jose Mourinho’s Roma to do list from getting into Champions League to fixing Chris Smalling relations and new signings
Posted Wednesday, May 05, 2021 by Thesun.co.uk
JOSE MOURINHO will head to Italy to take over as Roma manager next season.
The Portuguese boss was named as new head coach of the Serie A side on Tuesday.
Mourinho will have plenty of work to get on with - after writing for SunSport during the Euros this summer of course.
Here, we take a look at some of the key tasks Mourinho will have to solve when he takes the helm in Italy.
EURO VISION
Roma are seventh in Serie A and cannot finish in the top four.
And they'll need an absolute miracle against Manchester United in the Europa League semi-final second leg this week to come from 6-2 behind.
Mourinho's first task will be to get this proud club back into the Champions League.
They were semi-finalists just three years ago when they were beaten by Liverpool but it's been downhill ever since.
Roma were thrashed by Manchester United in the Europa League semi-final first leg on Thursday and need a miracle to qualify for the Champions LeagueCredit: Getty
SMALL TALK
The new Roma manager will have to build bridges with Chris Smalling after their spell at Manchester United.
Mourinho questioned Smalling's professionalism and desire and even made a joke about his feet, saying "we're for sure not playing out from the back".
He also had an indifferent relationship with Henrikh Mkhitaryan at Old Trafford.
Both Smalling and Mkhitaryan have rediscovered themselves in Roma and now face the prospect of working with their former boss again.
Jose Mourinho will have to get on the same page with Chris Smalling in Rome Credit: Reuters
SQUAD GOALS
Roma will need a fresh injection of talent if they're to compete at the top of Serie A again.
Erik Lamela has been linked with a Tottenham exit and got on well under Mourinho at Spurs.
A reunion at Roma - with Lamela returning to the club where he enjoyed arguably the best season of his career - could work for all parties.
Talking of reunions, Mourinho just loves Nemanja Matic and the Serb is struggling for playing time at Manchester United.
Could he sign him again?
Erik Lamela has been linked with a Spurs exit, and signing for Roma would be an interesting move Credit: The Sun
Jose Mourinho could also reunite with Nemanja Matic in the middle of the park Credit: Getty
INTER CONNECT
Mourinho will have to deal with his former club Inter Milan being domestic champions when he joins Roma.
The man who took them there is the man who took his Chelsea team to Premier League glory in Antonio Conte.
And among their squad are ex-Manchester United players Romelu Lukaku, Alexis Sanchez, Matteo Darmian and Ashley Young.
It's fair to say there are plenty of familiar characters in this particular Mourinho storyline.
That will surely only make it sweeter for him if he's able to take Roma back to the top of the Italian game.
Jose Mourinho led Inter Milan to a famous Treble - now he takes over at Roma with his former club top of the shop in Italy again Credit: AP
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