Ex-Roma man Marash Kumbulla hails Jose Mourinho: “He helps you see football in another way” | OneFootball

Roma loanee Marash Kumbulla opens up about his life at Espanyol and his return to form after leaving Italy.

Speaking to RG in an exclusive interview, Marash Kumbulla reflected on his time at Roma as he highlighted the pressure in the Italian capital which sometimes had a rejuvenating effect. He said: “I wasn’t thinking about the price tag at first, I just wanted to play football. There was a lot of pressure – Roma is a big team in Italy whose fans demand a lot – but I really enjoyed my time in Roma, and the pressure, even in the bad times, helped me mature.”

Kumbulla’s first season was spent working with Paulo Fonseca and in his second stint, he had to play under Jose Mourinho. What followed was one of the Giallorossi’s best seasons in recent memory as the club went all the way to Tirana, Albania to play the Europa League final and ultimately secure their first European title in 31 years. Kumbulla expressed gratitude to Mourinho for his coaching style and for making him a regular presence in the starting line-up. He said: “I grew up a lot under Mourinho in terms of my character and mentality – he tells you the truth to your face. He helps you see football in another way, and that makes it easier to play at a higher level.”

Kumbulla talked about the positive effect he has found playing for Espanyol and earmarked how the Spanish side made him feel like a valuable asset in their squad. He said: “In Espanyol, I’ve found an atmosphere where I only have to think about what’s happening on the pitch and can concentrate on every single detail. I train every day to prepare myself for each game,”

Trambak Bhattacherjee | GIFN