Houssem Aouar says he is proud to play under AS Roma manager Jose Mourinho as he looks to have more game time.
The Algerian midfielder moved to the Italian capital outfit this summer on a free transfer from Olympique Lyon and has played 14 times in all competitions, nine of them in the Serie A.
Aouar spoke of the closeness he has built With Mourinho and the Portuguese tactician’s winning mentality.
“The coach is a real person. For example, I talk to him a lot and I have already said that he helps me a lot to learn to play with the team, play different football, but I like this, I like the coach’s winning mentality,” Aouar told TuttoMercato.
“I’m happy and proud to play for him and I also know that it’s difficult for me having not played much, but I hope that now I can play great games for him, the team and the fans.”
Tutti Insieme! Forza Roma Sempre ❤️???? @OfficialASRoma pic.twitter.com/2Y2XJBPQcU
— Houssem (@HoussemAouar) August 30, 2023
Aouar has struggled to nail a regular starting berth in the Roma squad and has been an unused in the Giallorossi’s last four Serie A games. He has however had more minutes in the Europa League, starting in every game.
Roma currently sit second in Group G and must beat Sheriff Tiraspol on Thursday evening while hoping Slavia Prague fail to get points at home to Servette FC in order to reach the Round of 16 directly, and Aouar is ready to give his best as he gets another likely start at the Stadio Olimpico.
“It’s the first time I’m away from Lyon,” he continued. “I know I have to learn. It’s difficult for me now, I had two bad games in Prague and Geneva. I know it. With humility I know that I have to show the coach that I can do more. I’m confident.
“Yes, I’m ready [for the Sheriff Tiraspol game]. I hope to play because I haven’t played much in the past matches. I know I have to do better to help the team and I hope I can do it.
“We always want to win because when we play for Roma, it’s the objective. We know that it’ll be difficult to finish first, but it is not impossible. We go out with a winning mentality [against Sheriff Tiraspol], and we hope to be first at the end of the match.”
Aouar began his career at Lyon in 2015, making a total of 233 appearances, scoring 41 goals and providing 36 assists.
He earned one non-competitive cap for France where he was born before switching allegiance to allegiance and has since earned five caps, scoring twice.
