Turkish "Istanbul Bashakshehir" striker Eldor Shomurodov returned to his time at "Roma" in a big interview with Kun.uz YouTube channel. This time, he spoke openly not only about the games in Italy, but also about his relationship with Jose Mourinho, who coached him at the time, and the rivalry with Tammy Abraham.
What was the relationship with Mourinho?
According to Eldor, the relationship with Mourinho was not "very bad." They communicated normally, but it was felt that the Portuguese coach's mood changed quickly.
"José Mourinho has his own character. Our relationship with him wasn't very bad. We've always spoken well. Mourinho spoke more according to his mood. It's like the weather, it changes very quickly. One day he spoke well, another day he was completely unrecognizable," Shomurodov said.
That is, Eldor saw Mourinho not as a coach who "walks in the same mood," but as a person who has a different psyche every day. In such an environment, the most difficult thing for a footballer is to feel stable confidence, because today it's good with you, and tomorrow it's as if it's not there at all.
Why was Abraham the first choice?
According to Eldor, Tammy Abraham's advantage was not only in football but also in the "project." That is, Roma brought him from Chelsea, as a player who has proven himself in the Premier League, for a large sum. After such a transfer, it's common for both inside the club and in external media to develop the impression that "he plays in the main lineup for 90 minutes."
"Now Abraham has come from Chelsea. He proved himself in the EPL and also played for the senior team. They also bought it for a lot of money. At that time, I read that "Roma" wanted to bring Abraham and that he should play in the starting lineup for 90 minutes," Eldor said.
At the same time, Shomurodov did not hide his inner state: at first, he believed that "if I fight, there will still be an opportunity." However, he admitted that over time, the spirit of competition sometimes faded.
"I also thought that if I fight, the coach will give me a chance anyway. But sometimes I stopped competing," the striker said.
Conclusion
Eldor's interview simply explains the competition at Roma: Abraham is a big transfer, big expectations, big stakes. Shomurodov struggled for his place in that environment, but sometimes he also experienced psychological pressure. The "weather-like comparison" of Mourinho seemed to describe the internal atmosphere of those years in one sentence: one day sun, one day cloud.
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