Featured Image Credit: TNT Sports
Topics: AS Roma, Jose Mourinho, Serie A, Romelu Lukaku
Josh Lawless
Jose Mourinho came up with a genius tactic to pass on a key message to goalkeeper Rui Patricio in Roma's game with Fiorentina on Sunday.
The Giallorossi drew 1-1 at the Stadio Olimpico after finishing the game with nine men following second-half dismissals to Nicola Zelewski and Romelu Lukaku.
Lukaku, on loan from Chelsea, opened the scoring five minutes into the game.
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But he followed Zelewski in being shown his marching orders, having received a red card for a late lunge on Christian Kouame in the 87th minute.
Zelewski's dismissal was for two yellow cards and came mere minutes before Lucas Martinez Quarta equalised.
Roma managed to hold on late on for a draw despite having two less players on the pitch.
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And that was thanks in part to a genius play for Mourinho late on. The Portuguese manager was spotted scribbling and handing a note to a nearby ball boy, who then went behind the goal and passed it on to Patricio.
The former Wolves shostopper took a look at it and then handed it back to the youngster before getting on with the game.
The former Chelsea and Manchester United boss is prone to writing and sending notes during games.
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His latest was picked up by the cameras and is believed to have contained tactical instructions for the later stages.
The ball boy has said he will keep the note as a memento to mark the special moment he stepped up to the mark.
Mourinho gives ball boys an important role and ending up inviting Callum Hynes to lunch with the Spurs players after he returned the ball quickly for a goal against Olympiakos in the Champions League.
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"I love intelligent ball boys like I was," Mourinho said.
"I was a brilliant ball boy as a kid...He reads the game, understands the game and made an important assist.
"He's not there just to look to the stands, lights or scarves. He's living the game and playing it very well."