The Portuguese tactician was unhappy with the words of the fourth official in Roma’s 2-1 defeat against Cremonese.
Jose Mourinho has hit out at the fourth official Marco Serra in Roma’s Serie A clash against Cremonese on Tuesday evening.
Mourinho was frustrated as his side were on the receiving end of a 2-1 defeat against Cremonese on Tuesday.
Goals from Frank Tsadjout and Daniel Ciofani gave Cremonese their first league win of the season after Spinazzola had equalised for Roma.
Frustrated Mourinho blasts fourth official
It was a disappointing day for Roma, who could have gone second with a win, but stay in fifth, one point behind city rivals, Lazio.
More importantly, it was a frustrating day for Mourinho, who given his marching orders following the restart.
It was his third red card this season, but the Portuguese tactician blamed the fourth official in the match for his latest dismissal.
Speaking after the game, Mourinho said the fourth official disrespected him with his words, adding it was the first time an official would talk to him in that manner in his long managerial career.
The former Chelsea manager also added that he could take legal action against Serra if he receives an audio recording of what he said.
“The referee? I’m emotional, but not a madman. Something happened which explains my reaction,” Mourinho told DAZN as per Roma Press.
“I have to understand if I can do something from a legal point of view: Piccinini gave me the red card, because unfortunately the fourth official doesn’t have the ability to say what he said to me. I want to understand if there is an audio recording of what happened.”
“I don’t want to go into the fact that Serra is from Turin and that we play Juve on Sunday. For the first time in my career, a fourth official spoke to me that way.”
Mourinho refuses to apologise
Mourinho revealed centre referree Piccinini asked him to apologise after the match, but he refused because Serra suffered a memory loss after failing to recollect what he said to him.
“At the end of the game I went to talk to them: Piccinini, who was fourth man in another game in which I was sent off, asked me to apologize to Serra. I told Serra to have the courage to tell what happened, but he has memory issues,” Mourinho added.
Despite his grouse with the referee, Mourinho revealed Roma only have themselves to blame for the defeat, although he said they were unlucky to lose.
“The responsibility is ours: lack of intensity, our inability to win the game in the opening stages. It is certainly not true that one team wanted it more than the other. Roma players always want to win.
“This was not a match we deserved to win, but we certainly didn’t deserve to lose either. After the draw we all thought the winning goal could come, then the penalty was given against us,” Mourinho concluded,
The Portuguese tactician will not be on the touch line for the game against Juventus, but he will need to galvanise his team ahead of the big match on Sunday.
Related content
20:32 - 28.02.2023
SERIE A Nigeria’s Okereke haunts Mourinho’s Roma in Cremonese’s shocking win
The 25-year-old turned out to be Mourinho’s nemesis as Cremonese secured their first league win of the season.
11:10 - 24.02.2023
UEL Jose Mourinho singles out player for praise after ‘empathetic’ Roma win
The Portuguese manager said his team was fantastic but reserved special praise for one of his players who was sacrificed on the night.
23:02 - 23.02.2023
UEL Mourinho works his magic as Roma beat Salzburg to reach Europa League last 16
Mourinho's tactical change helped his Roma side beat RB Salzburg to progress to the Europa League round of 16.