Mourinho on Roma return: 'The Roma fans are special'
Real Madrid play at Roma in the Champions League on Wednesday, a reunion for coach José Mourinho with his former club. He praised Roma and spoke of a possible quarterfinal.
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Real Madrid's Champions League game at Roma on Wednesday (9 p.m. local time) is a return to familiar ground for José Mourinho. "I don't hide the fact that the Roma fans are special," the Real coach said at his news conference at the Olympic Stadium, calling Roma and Inter "the strongest sides in the league." He added: "Maybe later on I'll come back here to play the quarterfinal."
Real beat Inter 2-1 in their opener and are playing their first away game of this Champions League campaign. Madrid have 23 players in their squad for the game. Roma drew 1-1 at Fenerbahce in their first game and are third in Serie A with 14 points, two behind Inter and Lazio.
Mourinho appeared relaxed, saying he sleeps "like a baby," according to Real Madrid's website. "The only thing that makes me doubt is when the name of the referee is known three weeks before the game," he said.