Mourinho describes Juventus’ point deduction as a joke as clubs still dream Champions League
Roma manager José Mourinho believes that knowing about Juventus‘ 10-point penalty with just two games remaining ‘is a joke’ and is sorry for Massimiliano Allegri and his players.
The Special One spoke to DAZN after a 2-2 draw against Salernitana at the Stadio Olimpico.
The Giallorossi remain in the race for the top four, but Mourinho doesn’t seem happy with the ruling from the FIGC Court of Appeal.
“It’s a joke to know this with two games remaining,” he said.
“For us and everyone, even for Juventus. Our approach would have been different if we had known before the games with Monza and Bologna. I am sorry for Allegri and his players, something changes for the season.”
Mourinho was asked if he feels the season has been distorted.
“To me, yes, but I no longer want to talk about this,” he admitted. I am sorry for professionals who work like me because they pay for errors that directors and maybe the club did.”
Roma sit sixth in the Serie A table with 60 points, four below fourth-placed Milan with two games remaining.
The Giallorossi will play the last two Serie A games against Fiorentina away and Spezia at home, but even if they miss out on the top four, they can still play Champions League football in 2023-24 by winning the Europa League.
Mourinho’s men will face Sevilla in the UEL Final in Budapest on May 31.
What Juventus need to qualify for the Champions League after a 10-point deduction
For Juventus, in order to play Champions League football next season, they must win the remaining games against Milan and Udinese, hoping Roma and Atalanta don’t do the same in the last two matches of the campaign and the Rossoneri don’t beat Hellas Verona.
The Bianconeri collapsed at Empoli on Monday night, losing 4-1 at the Stadio Castellani. Players had been informed about a 10-point deduction minutes before kick-off.
On paper, they could have still qualified for the Champions League by winning the remaining three matches, but the heavy defeat in Tuscany means they need six points in the last two games of the season and hope their competitors don’t do the same.
Juventus will host Milan at the Allianz Stadium this coming Sunday before visiting Udinese at the Dacia Arena in the final game of 2022-23.
Milan currently sit fourth in the table with 64 points, three more than Atalanta, four more than Roma and five above Juventus.
Stefano Pioli’s men will play Hellas Verona at San Siro in the last game of the season. Milan beat Juventus 2-0 at San Siro in October, so if Juventus win by one goal on Sunday, the Rossoneri can draw against Verona in the final game of the season and qualify for the Champions League if they finish level on points with the Bianconeri. If Juventus win by more than two goals against Milan, they’ll force the Rossoneri to win against Verona to qualify for the Champions League, provided Juve beat Udinese.
Atalanta will play Inter away and Monza at home in the last two games of the campaign.
