Roma Coach Jose Mourinho On Congested Fixture List: “Some Players Like Ex-Inter Milan Captain Zanetti Can Play Twice A Week, Others Struggle” | OneFootball

Current Roma and former Inter coach Jose Mourinho feels that former Nerazzurri captain and current Vice-President Javier Zanetti is a good example of a player who can handle the rigours of playing multiple matches per week.

Speaking in a press conference ahead of the Giallorossi’s Europa League round of sixteen first leg clash against Real Sociedad tomorrow, as reported by FCInterNews, the Portuguese coach gave his thoughts on how certain players are well-suited to a packed schedule, and others less so.

Zanetti was a player renowned for his fitness and stamina during his playing days.

The Argentine made nearly a thousand appearances across all competitions for the Nerazzurri, a testament to his ability to rack up many matches in a season without picking up too many injuries or needing to be rested often.

In the modern game, the question of player fitness amid mounting commitments on the pitch has become more important than ever, and for his part, Mourinho thinks back to Zanetti as a player who was capable of handling many matches.

Asked about player fitness amid a packed fixture list across different competitions, the coach remarked that “The DNA of individual players can’t be changed.”

“There are some who can play every day like Javier Zanetti, whilst others struggle a lot more.”