Mueez Ajao
– Roma boss Jose Mourinho is pleased that he and Henrikh Mkhitaryan proved the critics wrong who said the pair couldn’t work together again after their spell at Man Utd.
– Mkhitaryan won the Community Shield, League Cup and Europa League during his first season under Mourinho at Old Trafford after the Armenian arrived two months after the Portuguese boss in 2016.
– However, Mkhitaryan admitted that he had a “complicated” relationship with Mourinho and the Portuguese manager sanctioned his departure to Arsenal in 2018.
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– There were concerns that Mourinho would want to ship out the Man Utd flop when he arrived at Roma last year but he has become a key part of his team.
– Speaking in July 2021, the Armenia international reacted to Mourinho’s arrival in Rome, he said: “What happened in Manchester stays there. We spoke as mature people, we both want to go down the same path, we both want to win something with Roma and that is the only thing that matters this year.”
– Mkhitaryan has contributed five goals and six assists in 38 matches in all competitions, helping Mourinho out at Roma by becoming a bit of a utility player.
– And Mourinho appreciates the relationship he now has with the former Man Utd winger after a number of ups and downs.
– Mourinho told Sky Sports: “We [Mkhitaryan] won together three titles [Community Shield, League Cup, Europa League] at Man United, unfortunately the last three titles of Man United. I say ‘unfortunately’ because, yes, I like the club very, very much and I wish the club the best.
– “We won three titles together so everything went well. In the second season, we were together was a little bit different. The thing that makes me really happy was because in the beginning people try to go on a negative and say, ‘Miki with Jose has no chance, Jose is the kind of guy when things go wrong never go well again’, it was proven exactly the opposite. We were very mature, honest with each other at that time even with Mino (Raiola), rest in peace Mino, the discussion was very good.
– “I try always to be very honest with the players. I saw my project in Rome needing a player like Miki, I also understand the importance of Miki in the group and he’s having an amazing season.
– “He’s helping us cope with all the problems that we face as a small squad. Miki has been playing everywhere, a winger, as a 10, then we had injuries and Covid situations and he became a central midfielder which he’s never been in his life.
– “I am so happy with Miki and I’m happy with people understanding with me not everything is black or white. It’s possible that a player comes with a different relationship than it was in the past.”
– “With Chris (Smalling) it’s about finding a balance on his body that allows him to be playing regularly. He’s experienced, his know-how and his qualities as a defender as there. Also tactically in relation to the system the team plays and the defensive organisation.
– “Chris is doing very well this season, playing at a level that makes me really happy about him because he is a fantastic player. He’s recognised in Italy as ‘Smalldini’, half Smalling, half (Paolo) Maldini. He’s doing amazing for us.”
