Jose Mourinho has drawn parallels between himself and Harry Potter, implying that managing Roma is elevating expectations for the club's potential achievements.
Despite his team's elimination from the Coppa Italia by Lazio on Wednesday, Mourinho, who has suffered defeat in four out of six Rome derbies, asserts that the fans anticipate higher standards due to his managerial career.
"The Roma fans are the most incredible I have seen. Their coach is Jose 'Harry Potter' Mourinho and he raises expectations," he said.
Mourinho's remarks were not the first instance the ex-Chelsea and Manchester United manager has discussed the fictional wizard.
On a previous occasion, he informed Real Madrid fans, "I am a coach, not Harry Potter," aiming to temper expectations.
Roma currently occupy the eighth position in Serie A, trailing Fiorentina by four points for the last Champions League qualifying position.
The team has only garnered five points in their most recent five league matches, with particular scrutiny following their loss to Lazio.
"I don't know how many derbies I've played, 200, 150, they are always special matches. I've won, I've drawn, I've lost, always with a different experience," said Mourinho.
"I have always understood that for a Chelsea fan, a game against Manchester City is not the same as a game against Arsenal. That for Inter, a game against Roma is not the same as a game against Juventus. I understand what a derby means. The derby we played was an important derby."
Roma has bounced back from a lackluster beginning to the season, during which the club amassed only five points in their initial six Serie A matches.
Mourinho, whose contract expires at the end of the season, expressed his complete dedication to the club.
"I've been here for two years and five months and I'm the only person here who hasn't missed a single training session in that time," he said.
"For me there are no illnesses or bad moods. For two and a half years I haven't done anything wrong, not even a couple of weeks ago when everyone was sick.
"I do not accept in any way that my professionalism and dignity, my heart for this job, can be questioned. If there is a perfect example of professionalism, it is me. I have never missed one match in over 20 years of my career."
