‘Sarri is smoking at home, I’m playing midweek’ says Mourinho

Controversial football manager Jose Mourinho has taken a bizarre swipe at rival boss Maurizio Sarri ahead of this weekend's Rome derby.

The Roma boss watched in disbelief as his side were taken to the brink of extra-time in their Europa Conference League last 16 clash with Vitesse on Thursday night.

Having won the first leg 1-0, the Serie A giants were trailing until the final minute, when Tammy Abraham prodded home an equaliser to send them into the quarters.

But immediately after the game, Mourinho bemoaned his team's crowded schedule - with Lazio not playing midweek ahead of Sunday evening's kick-off.

Bizarrely, the Special One took a swipe at famous smoker - and fellow former Chelsea boss - Sarri.

Mourinho told Sky Sport Italia: "Obviously, I am not happy that we played today with many players who will also have to be there on Sunday.

"Now Sarri is at home smoking his cigarette while I go home trying to think how we can recover from this for Sunday."

There is added incentive for the teams ahead of the game - with both in contention to snatch a Champions League spot.

Sarri's Lazio sit fifth, seven points adrift of fourth-placed Juventus, with Mourinho's Roma one point further back with nine games to play.

Atalanta are level on points with Roma, with a game in hand, too.

Mourinho knows his side must win the all-important six-pointer or watch their top-four hopes go up in flames.

And it seems he's resorted to his old mind-games trickery in the bid to steal an edge on his fierce rival.