the Friedkins must choose – Corriere.it

Dan and Ryan Friedkin they are men of cinema – with a rich palmares of prizes also in Cannes – and they will certainly understand the connection. A real choice by Sophie awaits them between now and Monday, the date of Jos Mourinho’s departure for the holidays. Keep the Special One under the conditions that the Portuguese imposed or say goodbye and start over with a completely new project? Mou, after losing the Europa League final on penalties against Sevilla, his first defeat after 5 wins out of 5 in the decisive acts of a European Cup, threw everything on the table: Monday he will go on vacation but until that day we have time to see us and talk to the property. I left all my things in Trigoria el tornar’s locker for sure, for now it’s time to speak. An interview that Mou, whose contract expires in June 2024, has been asking for weeks but which the Friedkins, in a very pragmatic way, have also postponed while waiting to understand the final result of the season. If they do not win against Spezia on Sunday evening, with the remains of the army wounded and torn apart by the final in Budapest, Roma even risk finishing seventh in the league and playing next season in the Conference League.

What Mourinho asks

What does Mou ask? More strong players, more money to spend, more power in market decisions – relationships with the CEO Tiago Pinto are at a minimum – and more support from the club in public appearances and in its battle against the referees: Now I cannot objectively say that he will stay. For I would like to do it. I want to stay at Roma. My players deserve more and I deserve more too. It seems paradoxical, but it’s better not to play in the Champions League next season because we’re not yet ready for that level. I’m tired of doing everything myself and always putting my face on it. Mourinho refers above all to his battle – in Italy and in Europe – against a refereeing class by which he feels bullied. The refereeing of the English Taylor last night was bad. Mou lashed out at him immediately after the match: An injustice. The referee looked Spanish and only cautioned us. Let’s hope that next year they will promote him to only play in the Champions League so that we, who won’t be there, won’t suffer from his bullshit. Second round in the mixed zone, where the coaches of teams and referees were parked. Before Taylor took cover, Mou attacked him and then the fourth man, Oliver: What a disgrace! (what a mess!). Then, louder: What a fucking disgrace! (what a fucking disaster!). Roberto Rosetti, president of the UEFA referee commission, tried to appease Mou, with poor results. New disqualification coming?

As for the future, the Special One is asking for champions. Several times he said he was forced to let kids play, like Bove and Zalewski. The fixed points are Smalling, Mancini, Cristante, Matic, Pellegrini and Dybala, which however has a low termination clause. At the very least, for him, the following are needed: two wingers in defence/midfield, a central defender, a leader in midfield, a centre-forward, a counter-attack that Roma do not have in their squad and who would have needed a 1-0 lead on Wednesday evening like bread. Rome, however, under Financial Fair Play and Tiago Pinto he made a transfer market – above all with zero parameters – in line with the directives of his bosses. The club will have to finance the market mainly with transfers and will not have access to the proceeds of the Champions League.

In addition, the Friedkins have recently hired the Greek Lina Souloukou as CEO, with an important past in the ECA, a pawn to increasingly enter the circle of clubs that also count inside the Palazzo. The same Palace that, starting from the arbitration question, Mou picks every time. The vast majority of Roma supporters are with the coach, but what will be Sophie’s choice? Indeed, about Dan and Ryan?