Jose Mourinho urges Tammy Abraham to be BETTER – despite two goals in Rome derby

Tammy Abraham has been challenged to be even better by boss Jose Mourinho despite hitting a match-winning brace in the Rome derby against Lazio on Sunday.

Abraham has been a revelation since swapping Chelsea for AS Roma and his double at the Stadio Olimpico has taken his season tally to 23 goals across all competitions. 

But Mourinho is rarely one to indulge in the praise of his players and he was quick to remind the English striker that he can ‘do even more’ with his game. 

Jose Mourinho (left) was not totally satisfied with Tammy Abraham (right) despite two goals

‘Great performance,’ Mourinho told DAZN after a 3-0 win.

‘Today was really special because it seemed that everything we had planned was put on the field, Lazio in the second half tried to play with pride but we never lost control. No doubt, the boys deserved the victory.

‘When you say Abraham is fantastic I disagree, he can do even more. 

‘I demand a lot of him because I know his potential, I’m not talking about goals but he must play every game with this attitude.’ 

Abraham netted after just 56 seconds having reacted quickest to a cross off the crossbar

Abraham (middle) added a second and is up to 23 goals across all competitions this season

Victory puts Roma in sixth, eight points adrift of Juventus, who occupy fourth position.

But without the goals of Abraham it is difficult to envisage this group remaining in contention for Champions League football next season.

Abraham’s first on Sunday came inside the first minute when he hooked in from close range after reacting quickest to Lorenzo Pellegrini’s corner striking the crossbar.

That finish, after just 56 seconds, also saw Abraham become only the second Englishman to score in the prestigious derby match, second to Paul Gascoigne, who played for Lazio.

Abraham’s second came in acrobatic fashion as he volleyed in Rick Karsdorp’s cross.

Mourinho has challenged Abraham to ‘do even more’ and focus most on his ‘attitude’ on pitch

Mourinho’s side added a third when Pellegrini produced a sumptuous 25-yard free-kick to seal victory – but even with a dominant win over a rival he is dismissive of the top four pursuit his players are targeting. 

‘I see the top four who are battling for the places and will stay there, I don’t see any of them losing that,’ a pessimistic Mourinho added. 

‘Then there are four teams fighting for between fifth place and eighth – us, Atalanta, Lazio and Fiorentina – and four teams who are improving their potential, which are obviously different to the potential of the top four.

‘There is a difference between fifth and eighth, so we want to end the season well.’