During AS Roma’s 3-0 victory over Sampdoria on Sunday, Jose Mourinho demonstrated that he is a true gentleman.
The capital club’s triumph, which featured goals from Gini Wijnaldum, Paulo Dybala, and Stephan El Shaarawy, has brought them level on points with Inter Milan, who currently occupy fourth place.
Roma’s goal difference is the only thing separating them from Champions League qualification, making it a genuine possibility.
However, while it was an excellent day for Roma in general, there were some unpleasant incidents at the iconic Stadio Olimpico.
At the beginning of the second half, with the scores tied at 0-0, a group of Roma supporters subjected Sampdoria manager Dejan Stankovic to racist insults.
This occurred soon after Jeison Murillo’s expulsion, which Stankovic appeared to object to.
His objections prompted the Roma Ultras in the Curva Sud to lash out at him with abusive remarks regarding his heritage.
However, Mourinho was having absolutely none of it…
Video: Mourinho defended Stankovic from racist abuse
Jose Mourinho ordering Roma’s fans to stop racist chants against Sampdoria manager Dejan Stankovic.
He said afterwards: “I did it for a great man and a great friend. He has kids and a family. Our fans are great but my friends aren’t being touched.”pic.twitter.com/q6hfGLzccs
— Sam Street (@samstreetwrites) April 2, 2023
Respect, Jose.
Thankfully, Roma’s fans heeded their manager’s call and put an end to the abuse. Mourinho and Stankovic collaborated as coach and player at Inter Milan, a partnership that resulted in the team winning a historic treble during the 2009/10 season. Following the match, Stankovic, who is remembered for scoring an unbelievable volley against Manuel Neuer in the Champions League, spoke about Mourinho’s intervention.
He said, perFootball Italia: “I thank Jose, because I didn’t even notice, but as for the chants, I am proud of who I am. I am proud to be a gypsy.”
What did Mourinho say after Roma 3-0 Sampdoria?
On his team’s performance, Mourinho wasn’t all positive in a post-match interview.
“In the first half we felt frustrated at not scoring, considering we created so many chances, and after the red card obviously that made it more difficult for Sampdoria,”he said.
However, the Portuguese was happy with Wijnaldum’s contribution, the midfielder only recently returning from a serious leg fracture.
“I don’t like to talk about individuals, but I am satisfied with his [Wijnaldum’s] progress and he played really well today,” Mourinho added. “Diego Llorente also did well and that is a performance that really strikes a coach.