Jose Mourinho gets Roma tenure off to a flying start as Serie A side smash TEN past local minnows in first pre-season friendly as Portuguese begins Italian adventure in style
- Jose Mourinho has got off to a flying start with Roma after a big pre-season win
- The Italians smashed ten past local opposition in a behind-closed-doors friendly
- Mourinho, 58, has joined Roma after being dismissed from Spurs last season
- Rui Patricio is the Portuguese’s first signing, joining for £9.8m from Wolves
Jose Mourinho has got off to a flying start with Roma after the Italians smashed ten past Tuscans Montecatini in a pre-season friendly on Thursday.
Mourinho, 58, has taken on a new challenge in the Italian capital after receiving his marching orders from Tottenham in April, having failed to guide the North Londoners up the Premier League table.
The Portuguese coach has fond memories of Italy after winning the treble with Inter Milan in 2010, and he staunchly defended his managerial record upon his arrival to the Giallorossi last week.
Jose Mourinho has got his Roma adventure off to a flyer after winning 10-0 on Thursday
Borja Mayoral hit a hat trick while Nicolo Zaniolo struck to see off Tuscans Montecatini
Mourinho has been tasked with advancing Roma in Serie A, with former boss Paulo Fonseca securing a measly seventh place finish in the 2020-21 campaign.
And the former Chelsea, Man United and Spurs boss has enjoyed the best start possible after battering local side Tuscans Montecatini at the Fulvio Bernardini training centre.
Spectators were not allowed to attend as Borja Mayoral hit a hat-trick while Nicolo Zaniolo, who wore the captain’s armband, found the net.
Carles Perez, Gianluca Mancini, Riccardo Calafiori, Nicola Zalewski and Amadou Diawara all added their names to the scoreline, along with an own goal.
Roma continue their 2021-22 preparations on Sunday when they take on Ternana, with fans able to view Mourinho’s side on television for the first time.
Chris Smalling featured for the Italians as the Englishman linked up with Mourinho again
Zaniolo scored from the spot as Roma’s squad looked to impress their new boss on Thursday
Mourinho watches on alongside Joao Sacramento during the behind-closed-doors friendly
The Portuguese has already made the first signing of his tenure, landing Wolves goalkeeper Rui Patricio for £9.8million from the West Midlands club.
Portugal No 1 Patricio expressed his delight in working under his fellow countryman, who has won all there is to win in club management.
‘It’s a great feeling to be here,’ Rui Patricio told RomaTV. ‘It’s a chance for me to develop learn and improve and come to a club where I can compete for silverware.
Mourinho has also reunited with former Manchester United star Henrikh Mkhitaryan
The Portuguese landed his first signing this week as Rui Patricio joined from Wolves for £9.8m
‘I’m delighted and confident and I want to work hard and do my best to help the team.
‘Obviously, I was really pleased when I heard Roma were interested. I was desperate to come here because I definitely wanted a new challenge.
‘I had three years at Wolverhampton where I was very happy and I can only thank them because it was a chance to play in the Premier League.
‘I’ll never forget Wolverhampton because it’s a family club and I love that, but Roma coming in represented a chance to fight for trophies and join a big club, so I’m really excited.’