Jose Mourinho’s AS Roma on Thursday fell to their third Serie A defeat of the season 4-1 at Genoa, leaving the capital side just above the relegation zone.
Former Real Madrid, Manchester United and Chelsea coach Mourinho is having the worst start to his coaching career with five points in six matches.
“We started this match badly, we reacted to equalize, and then we lost Diego [Llorente] and that changed the face of the match, our organization,” Mourinho said. “There are so many things to say, we’re missing important players, like Chris Smalling, we don’t have the solidity of last season. We have to get out of this situation with this group which has its qualities and its faults.”
Photo: EPA-EFE
Roma were reeling after Albert Gudmundsson fired the northwestern port side ahead after five minutes, before Bryan Cristante hauled them back into the game with an equalizer after 22, but Genoa came out firing after halftime with Gudmundsson and Morten Thorsby combining superbly to set up Mateo Retegui to finish off with a half-volley.
Thorsby added a third after 74 minutes, with Junior Messias netting the fourth seven minutes later through a porous Roma defense.
Watching from the stands, Roma legend Francesco Totti left the Stadio Luigi-Ferraris after Genoa’s fourth goal.
Aiming for a return to the UEFA Champions League next season, Mourinho’s side find themselves fighting to remain in the top flight. Roma are 16th with five points from six games, 10 points behind leaders Inter, and only two clear of Udinese, who occupy 18th place.
Genoa jumped to 11th place with seven points after their second win of the season.
“We had a great match, showed a lot of courage and technical mastery. This team has a lot of pride and desire,” Genoa coach Alberto Gilardino said.
Earlier, AC Monza and Bologna drew 0-0, while Frosinone grabbed a point after a 1-1 draw with ACF Fiorentina.
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