Mourinho: “Facing Sociedad? We weren’t lucky with the draw!”

 Roma manager Jose Mourinho addressed the media ahead of tomorrow night’s first leg of Europa League playoffs with Real Sociedad. “Sociedad have a very good coach and are well organized as a team. They’re hard to break down because they can switch formations at any time. They’re really a wonderful team to watch. The fact that they’re fourth in La Liga says a lot about them. I’m sure they have just as much respect for us.” “I can say that we weren’t lucky with the draw. The level of this year’s Europa League is very elevated,” he continued. “Let’s remember, Sociedad beat United at Old Trafford. That’s the team we’re facing tomorrow.” Asked about Tammy Abraham, Mourinho replied, “I’m only interested in one version of Tammy – the one who started on the bench with Juventus and by the end of the match was seen celebrating like he’d scored a goal in front of the Curva. That’s the Tammy I want.”The Portuguese technician was also accompanied by shot-stopper Rui Patricio who held a separate press conference soon afterward. “Real Sociedad is an excellent team,” Mourinho told reporters. “They have very few weak spots. Their players, like Oyarzabal, are good and extremely technical.”  On the team’s physical endurance in light of a packed schedule, Mourinho commented, “Physically I think we are in very good hands, the athletic trainer and other collaborators are of very high level, even the work that Salvatore [Foti] and I do always takes into account the physical condition of players.” “Obviously, then the players’ own DNA has an impact on their performance. There are those who can play every three days and those that cannot. Someone like Javier Zanetti could play seven games a week, it was a matter of DNA. There are those who can’t handle it or struggle more but I think what matters more than anything else is to play every game with the pressure of wanting to win.”
“Dybala? Dybala came here motivated, with the dream of winning the World Cup and he did it, he feels important to us and he is, I think it’s all of this together. I’m happy because he’s a fantastic guy, humble, sensitive and he deserves all this affection.” replied Mourinho.