Jose Mourinho was sent-off as were three of his Roma players in a highly-charged pre-season friendly against Real Betis that saw the Italian side ship five goals
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Jose Mourinho asks for time as he is unveiled as Roma manager
Jose Mourinho and three of his Roma players were sent-off in an ill-tempered pre-season friendly against Real Betis.
The Special One was appointed at the Stadio Olympico shortly after his Tottenham dismissal earlier this year.
He is keen to make an impact in Italy and rebuild his reputation following three sackings in a row – all at English clubs.
But tensions boiled over as he stormed onto the pitch to contest a refereeing decision in a game Roma eventually lost 5-2.
Mourinho and his player were angered by a refereeing decision on the hour mark with the game tied at 2-2.
Alex Moreno put the Spanish side ahead as he bundled the ball over the line, but Roma players felt as though the ball had struck his left arm.
They swarmed the referee before Mourinho too got involved resulting in him and Lorenzo Pellegrini being given their marching orders.
Gianluca Mancini and Rick Karsdop also saw red which allowed Betis to take advantage of a three extra men on the pitch.
Karsdorp is one of Mourinho’s new arrival and admits the Portuguese coach it taking the role incredible seriously despite his happy persona away from football.
“In the world of football, everyone knows the Special One. But I only knew him from TV and interviews,” he told Il Romanista.
“Now I can say that I like very much how he works, how he makes us train: the sessions are hard, but I like them so, they make me stronger.
“I like the way he talks. When I returned from the holidays, I wondered how he was, I was curious: I had only seen it on TV.
“He is a person who likes jokes at the right time. And this is very important for the group. But it only happens off the pitch. When we work, he is always very serious.”
Roma were well off the pace domestically last term, finishing 29 points behind champions Inter Milan.
They have been unable to challenge for honours in recent years with their last Serie A title coming two decades ago.
Mourinho previously enjoyed huge success in Italy, guiding Inter to the treble in 2010. A feat never before achieved by an Italian side.
However, since leading Chelsea to the Premier League in 2015, the Special One has been unable to mount a title charge.
Mourinho said in his opening press conference: “What they (the owners) want for the club is very clear. You should never forget the past, but we want to build a future. In football the word ‘time’ never seems to exist, but here it does.
“What the ownership want is not success today and then problems tomorrow. They want to create a sustainable system. They want to leave a legacy for the future. That is why I am here.”
