AS Roma manager Jose Mourinho holds a new record that he doesn’t want after his team lost 6-1 in Norway to Bodo/Glimt in the UEFA Conference League. The result is one of the most surprising of the year in European football and marks the first time Mourinho has conceded six goals in a single match.
The Special One fielded a weakened side, starting some of the players who lacked match action since the beginning of the campaign. From the regular Roma 11, just Rui Patricio and Ibanez found themselves in the lineup for Bodo. Mourinho’s attempt to diversify resulted in a historic humiliation.
Erik Botheim and Patrick Berg put the Norwegian hosts two goals ahead after 20 minutes. Carles Perez then injected some normality into the game, as the first half finished with a 2-1 scoreline.
The halftime team talk brought no improvement in Roma’s performance, though. The Giallorossi conceded four more goals until the 80th minute, when Bodo finally put their engines on standby. Botheim, Ola Selvaag Solbakken with a double, and Amahl Pellegrino provided Bodo a crushing win against the highly-rated Roma squad
In his previous 1,007 matches as a manager, Mourinho never conceded six goals in a single clash. His coaching career began at Benfica, in 2000 and took him to Porto, Chelsea, Inter, Real Madrid, and Manchester United.
Despite their defeat in Norway, Roma finds itself second in Group C of the UEFA Conference League. The Italians won six points in three games, one less than Bodo. Ukrainian side Zorya come third on three points, with Bulgarian team CSKA Sofia at the bottom with just one point.
Jose Mourinho's reaction after the final whistle of the game against Bodo. Told Bodo's manager 'Well done' twice, as he held his face in his palms paternally. Class. #ASRoma #BodoRoma pic.twitter.com/oAgiyQKh0v
— Emanuel RoÅŸu (@Emishor) October 21, 2021
Mourinho: ‘Bodo had more quality’
Speaking to Roma’s channel immediately after the final whistle, Mourinho had surprising comments to make about his team.
“Bodo had more quality than we did,” Mourinho stressed. “We decided to change the team with a double objective. The first was to rest some of the players who played almost all the games so far and the second was to offer a playing opportunity to those who train, who work very well in training. They are professionals, they want to play, they work well. We used our second line and Bodo its first. They had more quality than us today, yes,” he added.
Once the game finished, Mourinho rushed to congratulate his opponent, Kjetil Knutsen, before going straight to the locker room. Roma’s players were confronted by traveling fans who wanted an explanation for the below-par performance they witnessed. The Italians who made the trip to Bodo, a town in Northern Norway, traveled for more than 2,300 miles to watch Roma’s humiliation.
AS Roma's traveling fans confronted the players after the 6-1 defeat vs Bodo tonight. Immense game for the hosts. #ASRoma pic.twitter.com/dFqRB5nJVX
— Emanuel RoÅŸu (@Emishor) October 21, 2021
