AS Roma: Mourinho Issue Apology after Replacing Renato Sanches After 18 minutes

This Sunday, AS Roma suffered a defeat against Bologna (0-2) in a Serie A match. Renato Sanches, a midfielder loaned from Paris Saint-Germain, came on at halftime when his team was trailing by one goal.

It was a tough evening for Renato Sanches. The PSG player started the game on the bench, and when he was brought on, his coach, José Mourinho, decided to substitute him after just 18 minutes—an apparent setback.

Following this decision, Mourinho publicly apologized to Renato Sanches, acknowledging that it was a difficult choice for both the player and himself. « I publicly apologize to Renato Sanches. But I felt the duty to make this choice; I thought it was the best for the team. I know it’s tough. »

« Substituting him after 18 minutes is a tough decision for the player but also for the coach. I’ve done this three or four times in my career. I’m sorry for Renato, » Mourinho emphasized in an interview with DAZN after the match.