Jose Mourinho has demanded that Roma receive an "explanation" for decisions that went against them in their bruising 2-0 defeat to Fiorentina on Monday.
The Giallorossi, not so fresh from reaching the Europa Conference League final last week, extended their winless run in Serie A to four games by conceding twice in the opening 11 minutes at the Stadio Artemio Franchi. Fiorentina's first goal came from a penalty just five minutes in, as Nico Gonzalez tucked home after going down easily under a challenge from Roma wing-back Rick Karsdorp.
Referee Marco Guida was instructed to review his decision on the pitch-side monitor and despite little contact, pointed to the spot. The controversial call left Mourinho seething - not for the first time this season - demanding more "respect" for his team, who were inspired by star striker Tammy Abraham in their hard-fought 1-0 victory over Leicester City last Thursday which pits them against Feyenoord for the final in Tirana, Albania on Wednesday, May 25.
"The explanation… we've been waiting for an explanation for a long time and we have no explanation," the Giallorossi boss told DAZN post-match, via Football Italia. "There is a double explanation tonight. Obviously, after Thursday's game we were certainly lacking physical and mental energy, compared to a side that had all week to prepare.
"But I want to hear the explanation from Mr [Luca] Banti of Livorno, which is not far from here. I already saw the footage, it's a touch, not a foul. The referee was close by and did not give a penalty. In the VAR room, Mr Banti intervened."
Mourinho did credit the hosts for their performance, with Giacomo Bonaventura grabbing the second goal, but maintained that his side have been treated unfairly this term. "Aside from the penalty, Fiorentina were also stronger," the ex- Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur manager admitted. "They played at a different tempo and with concentration, so they deserved to win.
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"The problem is we are not talking about just these three points, but the many, many incidents that we have no explanation for. Why did the VAR call a referee like Guida, who was 10 metres away and saw full well it wasn't a penalty? Why? These are the explanations we want and do not have.
"Yes, we are in a final, which absorbs the emotion and energy of a club like Roma, but we also have a league to play and it's frankly too much. What keeps happening to this team is just too much."
Crucially, the result drew Fiorentina level on points with sixth-place Roma in the race to qualify for European football next season, although Mourinho is not surprised by the Giallorossi's lacklustre end to the domestic campaign. "It is very simple," the Portuguese declared.
"[Nicola] Zalewski would've possibly been on the bench of the youth team 12 months ago. He has played nine games in a row, including the semi-final of a European tournament. The difference when playing vertically is the difference of 14 games that Roma played more than Fiorentina this season. If we run 10 kilometres per game, 14 games is a lot.
"It is the difference between intensity and lack of intensity, concentration and lack of concentration. It is very simple. We know that we have the respect of the Roma fans, but we also want respect from the Bantis of this world, who sit in their comfortable chairs and have taken many, many points away from this team."
