AS Roma manager Jose Mourinho has begun his four-match UEFA touchline ban for his conduct during the Europa League Final against Sevilla last season.
Rather than sticking to his usual routine of watching matches remotely on a screen whenever he has a match ban, Jose Mourinho has opted to watch Roma’s Europa League opener against Sheriff Tiraspol from the press area alongside match analyst Giovanni Cerra.
The Herald reports that his decision to see the match in person now contradicts his nature where he remains on the team bus to observe the game and communicate with his staff.
However, it seems that Jose Mourinho wants to maintain a visible presence and offer his support to his side. Roma has had a mixed start to the Serie A campaign, but they bounced back with an unexpected 7-0 victory over Empoli in their last match.
Striker Romelu Lukaku who scored his first goal for the club in that game, is also part of the starting lineup for the Europa League clash, alongside Stephan El Shaarawy.
Mourinho’s UEFA ban stems from his behavior during the Europa League Final, where he was accused of insulting the referee.
As a result, he bagged a ban from being on the touchline for four matches UEFA matches.
Jose Mourinho is known for his dramatic displays and has been dubbed a mean coach by some players he has worked with. Aside from coaching AS Roma in the Italian League, he has also had remarkable stints across Europe’s top-flight leagues and teams alike.
His time in the English Premier League saw him coach a number of top English teams like Chelsea (twice), Manchester United, and Tottenham Hotspur.