On the eve of another European final, the Portuguese patrolled his team’s final training session with a large white T-shirt and a black jumper.
Few can manage these one-off games. He goes “into the tunnel” during the critical final weeks.
“It’s been a week where none of us have slept at night; there is a lot of excitement,” one Roma supporter remarked as he tried to calm his jitters at Heroes’ Square (Hosok tere), a landmark in Budapest, the home city of Wednesday’s Europa League final versus Sevilla. Let’s hope for the best. Tomorrow will last forever.”
Mourinho has restricted access to Roma’s training center in Trigoria, according to sources.
On evenings like these, you want him in your corner. He won the UEFA Cup in 2003, the Champions League in 2004 and 2010, the Europa League in 2017, and the Europa Conference League in 2022.
The Portuguese manager has won all five European finals. He knows how to. “He’s different; he makes you realize the importance of the match,” Roma captain Lorenzo Pellegrini said earlier this month, crediting Mourinho for the team’s success.
“We arrived, and everyone knew what to do. Study, organize, and watch videos. In Europe, the coach brings us.” Mourinho created our personality.”
Two years after leaving Benfica, the Setubal native has flourished in Budapest. Mourinho won a triple in 2002/03 after defeating Celtic in the UEFA Cup.
Mourinho will want to add to his legacy after winning the Europa League with Manchester United in 2017.
At 60, Mourinho talks about his accomplishments more calmly.
“My concern isn’t marking my place in the Roma history books,” he told Sky Sports. “It’s helping these youngsters (players) grow and achieve significant things.
It’s also aiding Roma fans, who have supported me since day one. It’s thrilling to reach another final.”
Mourinho has won more European championships than Sevilla head coach Jose Luis Mendilibar has managed in those tournaments, which is surprising.
After Jorge Sampaoli’s dismissal, the 62-year-old’s career is already blooming.
Sevilla, like Roma, failed to finish in LaLiga’s top four, although the Andalusians have recovered from relegation.
Sevilla’s third manager this season, Mendilibar, took over two points ahead of the relegation zone, but they are currently just a point off seventh place heading into the final round of domestic matches this weekend.
“People didn’t expect we would do something like this, and we have achieved it,” said Mendilibar, who has lost twice in 11 league games and defeated Manchester United in the previous round.
Unlike what Mourinho said 10 years ago, the stakes are higher.
“If I win the Europa League, it will be a big disappointment for me because I don’t want to play in it,” he remarked after being reappointed by Chelsea. It was perceived as a dig at Rafa Bentez, who won the 2013 Europa League as the Blues temporary coach weeks before.
He’s fulfilling Daniel Levy’s Tottenham expectations at Roma.
Roma won the Europa League last year after defeating Feyenoord.
He became the third manager after Udo Lattek and Giovanni Trapattoni to win all three major European trophies.
He became the first to win the Champions League, UEFA Cup/Europa League, and Europa Conference League, replacing the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup.
Mourinho led Roma to back-to-back European Championships despite Financial Fair Play laws limiting January transfers to £6 million.
Inter Milan in 1964 and 1965, Milan in 1968 and 1969, Juventus in 1984 and 1985, and Milan again in 1989 and 1990 have won major European titles in successive seasons.
After a 2-1 loss to Fiorentina on Saturday, they were eliminated from the Champions League.
Sixth in the table, another Europa League season is not yet secured if things go against them on the last day, with Juventus only a point behind.
As always in May, Mourinho has everything to play for after a lengthy season.
Sevilla blocked him. The Spanish team has reached the final six times, the most of any club.
If they win their eighth European title here, only Real Madrid (16), Barcelona (12), Milan (nine), Liverpool (nine), and Bayern Munich (eight) will have more.
Chief reporter Kaveh Solhekol discusses why Roma manager Jose Mourinho donned a microphone against Monza.
Mourinho has won big-stage finals before. If they win Hungary, it will be his 14th major cup.
Mourinho will surpass Trapattoni’s five European titles if Roma wins.
What happens when irresistible force meets an immovable object?
Mourinho has a chance to prove he’s still a visionary on Wednesday.
Kemi reported that last month that Paris Saint-Germain were considering him as their future manager. With head coach Christophe Galtier out of contract in 2024, the French champions will evaluate their alternatives after the season.
The Portuguese may leave Roma in the summer, but he’ll focus on another masterclass as Sevilla’s trickster.
“If they called, they didn’t find me,” Mourinho said.
He’ll dominate Wednesday’s drama. Expect pyrotechnics on the Danube with both records at stake.
Who takes the trophy home at the end?
