Mourinho: “Roma wants Europa League, not Conference League again!”

Sitting fourth in the Serie A table, 7 points behind leaders Napoli,

has a different plot in Europa League as they face

on Thursday sitting third in their Europa League group.

Equal on points with their Thursday opponents, goal difference has kept their Bulgarian opponents higher in the table as the Giallorossi faces the risk of getting landed in the

Europa Conference League

spot, which they won last year.

Roma's boss

declares that his side doesn't win the Europa Conference League again this year as he urges them to put out a strong display against Ludogorets, also mentioning how important

Nicolo Zaniolo

is for the Serie A side. The Italy international was banned by UEFA for three games and is back for selection.

“This is what I call justice, a three-match ban was too much, I think he deserved to be suspended for just one match at most,”

Mourinho said at a press conference.

“It’s important that he can play because he can help us win. I can’t say if he is fit, let’s see how he feels today, but I’d like to have him available.

“If we don’t win, we go to Conference League, but we don’t want. We want Europa League play-offs, and we only have one result to get there. It will be difficult because we have pressure and because of the opponent,” continued the Special One.

“I think the stadium is sold out, so the atmosphere will be worth a big match, like against Bodo or Leicester. If we create this atmosphere, we can make it.”

On his expectations from their opponents, the Portuguese added:

 “I expect a team playing for two results, differently from us. They are dangerous with counter-attacks, but we know we must run risks. The players’ ambition is not to win the Conference League again, we want to play in the Europa League play-offs where we’ll find teams that could even win the Champions League. That’s where we want to get.”

On

Matic

and

El Shaarawy

, he added:

“Matic is a 34-year-old injured player but he wants to be there to help the team.

“A young player training with these footballers can only grow up. Let’s see how he feels today and whether he can play. I think he will be involved, El Shaarawy will play, and then there are nine players remaining.”

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