AS Roma on Saturday beat Torino 1-0 thanks to a Paulo Dybala penalty and an outstanding defensive effort, moving them up to third place in the standings.
But, Roma manager Jose Mourinho said that the team would drop lower if Juventus were to remove the penalty of 15 points.
Mourinho’s side took advantage of the fact that AC Milan and Inter Milan happened in the early game to improve their position. Thanks to a win over Torino on Saturday.
Roma now have 53 points, one point more than Milan and two points more than Inter. Meanwhile, Juventus is seventh with 44 points.
Mourinho revealed how Juventus was deducted 15 points for accounting, financial reporting, and market manipulation mistakes.
However, the Old Lady has filed an appeal against this penalty with the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI). It is expected that CONI will issue a ruling on April 19. If the penalty is cleared, Juventus will lift to second with 59 points, just behind Napoli with 74 points.
“Winning is the best that can be done at this point in the season, with quality and also with the problems we try to hide. Are you sure Juve don’t have 59 points? In that case we would be fourth.” Mourinho said.
Roma continued to show Mourinho’s familiar pragmatic kick when scoring from a single shot on target on Saturday.
The visitors awarded a penalty in the 8th minute when midfielder Perr Schuurs let the ball touch his hand after Nicola Zalewski’s shot.
On the penalty spot, Paulo Dybala shot to the center, while goalkeeper Vanja Milinkovic-Savic poured to the left.
“You win when you score one goal more than your opponent. Win 1-0 or 5-4 makes no difference, and the goal of the game. Sports is victory.” Mourinho said.
“The goal is always the same, is to win as much as possible with the quality of the whole team and try to limit weaknesses.” he added.
On April 13, Roma to meet Feyenoord in the quarter-finals of the Europa League first leg, and then to meet Udinese in the 30th round of Serie A on April 16.
