“If Spinazzola is bad for Italy, imagine for me”

Jose Mourinho follows the Eurocup with great attention. The Setúbal coach is enjoying the tournament and going through different media to comment on what happens in each match and offer his point of view and forecasts. Heading into the semi-final between Spain and Italy, two destinations where he has worked and where he is currently, Spinazzola's injury took the spotlight. Beyond the importance it has for Mancini, it is because it also has it for Mourinho, as he is one of the players who will not be able to count on until the halfway point of next season at Roma.

“Italy is very close to the national team. Now I am in my quarantine in Rome, in the club's training center, but I can feel that from here everyone is not only excited, but very optimistic. The mix in the team is perfect, they know how to do it, they defend very well. Bonucci and Chiellini could play with their eyes closed, they have been playing together for many years. The sides are strong. They lost Spinazzola. If it's bad for them … imagine for me. I won't have it for six months. Italy has lost a very important player. Emerson is playing well now, he is a good and experienced player, but Spinazzola was playing very well. Jorginho gives incredible stability, Barella, Verratti, Locatelli are very talented. In attack, Immobile and Belotti are not scoring goals. The goals come from other positions. The coaching staff is very complete, Mancini is surrounded by friends with incredible experience and knowledge. Vialli is a first class person, and Oriali and Lombardo, they all create a very good atmosphere, “said Mourinho in his analysis in Talksport of the Italian team, highlighting the role of his player.

“I have a lot of respect for Spain, but I don't think it is as strong as Italy. However, they are talented, they have a certain way of playing that, when the game goes in the direction they want, is capable of sweeping away the rivals. It is the revenge of the final of the Eurocopa, when Spain completely destroyed Italy. People expected Italy to win, “added the Roma coach.

Leonardo Spinazzola was injured in the quarter-final match between Italy and Belgium in which the 'azzurri' won 2-1 to get into the semi-finals of the European Championship. The Roma full-back suffered a subcutaneous tear in the left Achilles tendon and the remainder of the tournament is lost in addition to the first months of competition. According to the estimate made by Jose Mourinho himself, a return would be expected by the end of 2020 or the beginning of 2021.