José Mourinho is known for many things. Fielding teams which produce energetic, flowing, attacking displays is not one of them.
And yet, in the early days of his tenure at the helm of AS Roma, the Giallorossi have not stopped scoring. Roma opened the season with a 2-1 win over Trabzonspor in UEFA Europa Conference League qualifiers. In the Serie A curtain raiser against Fiorentina, it emerged victorious with a 3-1 result after a riotous display, in large part due to Tammy Abraham. The new arrival from Chelsea produced an outstanding debut performance, assisting two goals and being denied a maiden goal by only the crossbar.
Draws early red card
Assist for Mkhitaryan
Turns defender inside-out
Crashes header against bar
Assist for Veretout
Big ovation from crowd— AS Roma English (@ASRomaEN) August 23, 2021
Next up for Mourinho's marauders was a comfortable 3-0 victory over Trabzonspor, with the goals coming from Bryan Cristante, Nicolo Zaniolo and Stephan El Shaarawy. That European victory was followed by another rout in Serie A as Roma pummeled newly promoted Salernitana 4-0. It was in this game that Abraham scored his first goal for the club, a thunderous effort off the post and past the keeper.
Tammy Abraham scores his first goal for Roma pic.twitter.com/xpyuuYJ8tz
— CBS Sports Golazo (@CBSSportsGolazo) August 29, 2021
Also on the scoresheet in that game were two central midfielders, Lorenzo Pellegrini and Jordan Veretout. The pair have seemingly been unleashed and encouraged to make runs into the box, and each has the talent to surpass 10 goals this season. Pellegrini's first came from a penetrating run, while his second was a tremendous curled effort that left the keeper stranded.
Lorenzo Pellegrini gets Roma’s first goal pic.twitter.com/F81nrS1ZnC
— CBS Sports Golazo (@CBSSportsGolazo) August 29, 2021
What a strike!
Lorenzo Pellegrini makes it 4 for Roma pic.twitter.com/KJ6dISfuMe— CBS Sports Golazo (@CBSSportsGolazo) August 29, 2021
While it is still only August, this Roma side looks nothing like the tedious, defensive-focused teams Mourinho has fielded at Manchester United and Tottenham. While always known as a more defensive coach, his last two spells in England produced some truly dull displays from star-studded teams. It thus comes as quite a surprise to see the Portuguese manager seemingly take the handbrake off and allow Roma to run riot.
Next up for the capital side after the international break is Sassuolo, with four points from two games, and CSKA Sofia in the Europa Conference League group stage.
