Jose Mourinho: Is Portuguese manager running out of time at Roma?

When Jose Mourinho was named Roma manager last May, it was considered a major coup for the Italian club and the city gripped by a fervour and belief that he was the man to take them to the next level.

His appointment came almost exactly 20 years since Roma's last Serie A triumph and, while there have been two Coppa Italia successes since, it was 2008 when fans last had any silverware to celebrate — and there was a sense things were about to change.

But things have not gone smoothly.

The 6-1 humiliation at the hands of Norwegian side Bodo/Glimt in the Europa Conference League (ECL) three months ago was the low point and their domestic form has also been patchy.

Roma are seventh in Serie A — the same position they finished last season and one that led to predecessor Paulo Fonseca's departure — and on 9 January were 3-1 up at home to Juventus, only to concede three late goals and lose 4-3.

Mourinho said afterwards his players had suffered a «psychological collapse» — the kind of criticism familiar to those who have followed the Portuguese in his recent spells in charge of Manchester United and Tottenham.

But despite those difficulties, he retains support from the club's fans and owners. He has credit in the bank, for now at least.

Mourinho's appointment on a 7.5m euros (£6.25m) per year contract for three years was greeted with much talk by club and manager of «the project».

There was the promise of the necessary time required to build something new and long-lasting and of generous transfer funds available.

And Mourinho has been backed. In the summer, Roma signed Matias Vina, Rui Patricio, Marash Kumbulla, Eldor Shomurodov and Tammy Abraham for a total investment of 100m euros (£83.6m).

Things began well with seven wins from his