JOSE MOURINHO lashed out at the state of his Roma squad after suffering the heaviest defeat of his managerial career.
The Serie A side were embarrassed 6-1 by Norwegian minnows Bodo/Glimt in Thursday’s Uefa Conference League clash.
It was the first time a team coached by the Special One has shipped in six goals in a single game.
A stat made even more staggering considering that was the 58-year-old’s 1008th match of his career.
His previous biggest loss was Real Madrid’s 5-0 mauling at the hands of rivals Barcelona in November 2010.
While his Chelsea side were hit for five in the 5-3 loss against Tottenham at White Hart Lane in January 2015.
But today’s result in Europe’s third-tier competition will undoubtedly be one of the most embarrassing moments of his career.
Speaking after the match, Mourinho said: “I decided to play with this line-up, so the responsibility is mine.
“I did it with good intentions, to give an opportunity to those who work hard and to rotate the squad on a synthetic pitch in cold weather. I decided to rest many players.
“We lost against a team that showed more quality on the night. It’s that simple.”
Before adding: “Every defeat does damage. I spoke to the players and was honest. I was honest with them, I cannot be honest with you.
“I never disguised the fact we were a squad with real limitations. We have 13 players who represent one team, the others are on a different level.
“At least the positive thing from now on is that nobody will ask me why I always use the same players.”
Roma, who had won both of their Conference League outings prior to their trip to Norway, now sit second to Bodo/Glimt in Group C.
The Giallorossi went 1-0 down in the eighth minute after Erik Botheim opened the scoring, before Patrick Berg doubled the hosts’ lead shortly after.
Carlos Perez pulled a goal back for the visitors in the 28th minute to give Roma hope of completing a comeback in the second half.
But their hopes were quickly dashed after Botheim banged in his second of the match shortly after the break, with Ola Solbakken firing home a fourth in the 71st minute.
It was 5-1 seven minutes later when Amahl Pellegrino got on the score sheet, before Solbakken grabbed his second moment later.
In an unwanted stat, Roma’s defeat against last season’s Norwegian top-flight champions is the club’s joint-second biggest defeat in Europe.
The result matches their 6-1 loss against Barcelona from 2015, with Manchester United’s 7-1 win in April 2007 remaining their heaviest.
And it is the only the second time a Norwegian team have scored three or more goals against an Italian opponent in a European competition.
Bodo/Glimt previously beat Sampdoria 3-2 in the European Cup Winners’ Cup in the 1994-95 season.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
