Capello slams ‘disrespectful’ American owners: ‘First Maldini and now Mourinho’

Fabio Capello is highly critical of American owners of Serie A clubs saying they disrespected both Paolo Maldini and José Mourinho: ‘I feel he was treated like somebody who had never coached a team.’

Mourinho was suddenly sacked by Roma on Tuesday morning and has already been replaced by Daniele De Rossi, who has signed a contract until the end of the season.

Capello spoke to Sky Sport Italia on Tuesday afternoon and was unconvinced by Roma’s decision, especially their methods.

“It seems to be that these American owners have a strange way of handling things, with no respect for those who work for them,” said the ex-Italian coach.

“They are disrespectful because we saw how Maldini was sacked with a phone call, and now they did the same with Mourinho, who was at Trigoria and was told that he was no longer in charge.”

Milan‘s American owner Gerry Cardinale fired club director Maldini alongside Ricky Massara last summer.

“There is no sensitivity around there; there is business,” continued Capello.

“They are the owners, and they decide, but I believe in something more, in a certain sense of respect for those working with you, saying goodbye in a different way rather than with a cold statement or a cold call [would have been better].”

Capello admitted he didn’t expect Roma’s decision.

“I didn’t, especially in this way. It was clear that they weren’t on the same page. Mourinho had had some requests but received no answers, and this was already a signal that things were not working.

“I feel Mourinho was treated like somebody who had never coached a team, in a very disrespectful way for a coach who has given a lot to world football, not only European. It’s an attitude that is unconvincing and which I don’t accept.

“Something similar happened to me when I was in Russia. I was heading to the airport after losing a game against Austria,” he continued.

“They called me to say that it was over. But that was Russi, I think that in these situations, there must be something different in the relationship between owners and their coach.”

De Rossi made his senior debut as a Roma player under Capello in 2001, and the former Giallorossi boss, the last one to win the Scudetto at the Stadio Olimpico, feels his former player will face many difficulties at the club.

“It’s a big leap; he takes charge of a team that is struggling, with just 13 players available currently, so it’s difficult to line up a competitive squad, but of course, it’s an excellent opportunity for De Rossi.

“I had also started with SPAL, so we have something in common. Now the difficult part starts: he must motivate the players and enter their minds, proving that they are a real team.”

Speaking about De Rossi’s senior debut at Roma over 20 years ago, Capello said: “It was so nice, I was convinced Alberto Aquilani was better than De Rossi, so I gave him his debut. After the first half, I told Alberto: ‘You have to play like you do in training’ but in the second half, he didn’t show enough personality, so I told De Rossi to go in. At the end of the game I said: ‘Daniele is ready to stay at Roma and Aquilani needs to get more experience elsewhere’ and he did well at Triestina. But De Rossi was ready from the very beginning, we’ll see if the same will happen as the Roma coach.”

De Rossi will take charge of his first training session as a Roma coach today at around 16:00 GMT, 17:00 local time.

Mourinho has already left Trigoria and was surrounded by Giallorossi supporters outside the gates of Roma’s training ground.