Manager’s red card reminiscent of predecessor and after winless start to season some are asking if he is an upgrade

Was this what Francesco Totti meant when he suggested Daniele De Rossi was at risk of becoming the new José Mourinho? Roma’s match at Genoa had just tipped into second-half injury time when the manager was sent off for clamouring against the referee’s decisions.

It was the first red card of De Rossi’s managerial career. Mourinho received seven during his two-and-a-half seasons in charge of the Giallorossi. The Italian has a way to catch up yet, but eight months into his tenure he is starting to face questions about whether he is truly improving on his predecessor’s work elsewhere.