Jose Mourinho explicitly attributed Roma’s 1-1 tie with Sassuolo to one of his players – “One unprofessional player’s attitude tarnished the team’s efforts,” the Portuguese coach lamented.
Tammy Abraham ended a two-month goalless streak in Serie A for the Giallorossi at the Mapei Stadium, but Andrea Pinamonti equalized from close range five minutes later.
“We had a good performance, with a positive, professional, serious attitude. The last two days were difficult,” Jose Mourinho told DAZN following Sunday’s Derby della Capitale loss to Lazio by a score of 1-0.
“It was a team that wanted to win against a tough opponent, I am sorry that the efforts of the team were betrayed by the attitude of one unprofessional player. You didn’t see me talking that way about Roger Ibanez against Lazio, because errors are part of the game, his attitude was never a problem.”
“An unprofessional attitude that is not fair to his teammates, that is what disappoints me. A point away from home is still not a negative result and I am happy with the general attitude of my squad.”
When asked who had got the wrong attitude and betrayed his teammates, Jose Mourinho refused to disclose the name of the player.
“I won’t tell you. I had 16 players on the field tonight and I liked the attitude of 15 of them”, Jose Mourinho added. “I told the other than he had this attitude today only and not always. Now we want to close this period of the season with three points.”
“In January, he needs to find himself another club.”
Mourinho resisted being pressed on who had adopted the wrong mindset and betrayed his teammates.
The player in question, according to the Corriere dello Sport, was Rick Karsdorp.
The absence of Lorenzo Pellegrini and Paulo Dybala left Roma without some teeth up front, thus Cristian Volpato began in place of Eldor Shomurodov.
“I cannot ask too much from a child like Volpato who plays for the youth team, I cannot expect him to illuminate everything he touches, but he did well. Obviously, I am happy, he has talent, but I cannot expect him to put the team on his shoulders.”
Coming off the bench, Abraham ended a two-month goal drought in Serie A.
“I asked Tammy, why today this attitude and not before? Aside from the goal, he won duels, he put his body in the way, created space, went deep to get the ball. He had a good game.”
Wednesday’s Serie A match between AS Roma and Sassuolo ended in a drab 1-1 stalemate after Sassuolo’s Andrea Pinamonti cancelled out a late goal by AS Roma’s Tammy Abraham.
After 32 minutes, Eldor Shomurodov nearly gave Roma the lead, but Sassuolo goalie Andrea Consigli blocked his shot.
At the break, both teams were deadlocked at 0-0. There weren’t many good chances in the second half until Gianluca Mancini’s cross was headed in by substitute Abraham in the 80th.
Five minutes later, Pinamonti’s close-range flip of Armand Lauriente’s pass gave Sassuolo a response.
With 26 points, Roma is sixth in the rankings with Bologna playing Inter Milan later on Wednesday. Sassuolo is in 13th place.
Before Gareth Southgate names his World Cup roster, Tammy Abraham provided one last reminder of his talent by scoring in Wednesday’s 1-1 draw between Roma and Sassuolo.
Abraham, who has only scored two league goals this season, was left out of the starting lineup of Jose Mourinho at Roma as Southgate prepares to announce the 26 players he will take to Qatar later today, November 10.
Abraham must now wait anxiously to see if he will be traveling to Qatar with the Three Lions.
As backup for England captain Harry Kane, the 25-year-old is anticipated to compete with Callum Wilson, Ivan Toney, and Marcus Rashford.
