n n n ‘.concat(e.i18n.t(“search.voice.recognition_retry”),’n
Jose Mourinho hopes his AS Roma “boy band” will build on their 2-0 win over reigning Serie A champions Napoli last weekend and dent Juventus’ ambitions in the hunt for a name on Saturday.
Juventus could lead Inter Milan by seven points on Saturday if Simone Inzaghi’s side beat Genoa in their sixth straight win on Friday.
A win for Roma would keep them firmly in the hunt for a Champions League position next season; They are in sixth place lately, just three points behind fourth-placed Bologna.
Bologna, though, will be favoured to beat relegation-threatened Udinese earlier on Saturday.
Mourinho refuses to comment on whether he has a target for this campaign. Any ambition, according to him, will have to be taken into account in a context in which the club is subject to the restrictions of Financial Fair Play.
“I prefer to take things one at a time for one very simple reason and this is not to blame anyone; it’s not a criticism but we have a group of players with complicated injury histories,” said Mourinho.
“If we had each and every one of them available for each and every game, I would have no problem saying we can fight each and every one of them, not even for the name of the top four.
“Unfortunately, we face those difficulties and, above all, we have restrictions on Financial Fair Play, which is a simple scenario to manage.
“That’s why I prefer to set express goals. “
Mourinho, however, stated that despite all the problems, the great strength of the team lies in the bond between the players.
“We’re united,” said the 60-year-old Portuguese coach.
“We have a group of wonderful guys who are looking to turn their weaknesses into strengths and help each other.
“We’ll see. We can’t do what we wanted to do in the January move-in window.
“It’s one thing what we should do and another what we can do.
“But we’re going to move on. “
Juventus gained momentum this week when Brazilian defender Gleison Bremer extended his contract until 2028.
The 26-year-old said he has grown as a player this season and is much more in Italy.
“This year things are going much better,” he told the club’s website.
“I have found greater serenity and I have learned from the mistakes made in my early days, which were normal.
“Now I feel comfortable and I’m much more aware of my strength and my qualities. “
His newfound confidence will go to Roma’s front row, adding Belgian star Romelu Lukaku.
“It’s going to be a tough game against Roma and I know it probably won’t be easy to compete with Romelu Lukaku,” he said.
“It’s going to be a challenge and I’m going to have to be persistent in my expansion path.
“A striker like this approaches in other ways, depending on the position on the pitch in front of him. “
Bremer said though he and his teammates are “a confident group” Inter will prove a formidable obstacle to dislodge at the top of the table.
“We know we haven’t won anything yet: we’re aware of Inter’s strength and our task is to stay up there. “
Fixtures (kick-off times GMT)
Friday:
Napoli vs. Monza, Fiorentina vs. Turin (both in 1730), Lazio vs. Frosinone, Genoa vs. Inter Milan (1945)
SATURDAY:
Atalanta vs. Lecce (1130), Udinese vs. Bologna, Cagliari vs. Empoli (1400), AC Milan vs. Sassuolo, Verona vs. Salernitana (both 1700), Juventus vs. AS Roma (1945)
pi/nr