Europe League
Victory against Bayer: Mourinho beckons with AS Roma next final
Rome coach Jose Mourinho gives instructions. photo
© Oliver Weiken/dpa
Coach veteran José Mourinho has put a damper on Bayer Leverkusen with his Roma. The 1-0 in the Europa League semifinals is only a small advantage, claims the Italian coach.
José Mourinho received a compliment from his former protégé Xabi Alonso before the game. “It was nice to see him again after a long time. He looks good after almost ten years,” said the Spaniard.
It didn’t stop with these words of praise: the Bayer Leverkusen coach also had to congratulate his opponent on AS Roma’s 1-0 win in the first leg of the semifinals of the Europa League. Mourinho is about to stop the Bundesliga soccer club shortly before the hoped-for final and move into his sixth European Cup final.
Mourinho then spoke of a deserved success. In a generational duel with Alonso – whom he had once trained at Real Madrid – the old master had managed to defuse Leverkusen’s most dangerous weapon. Bayer was unable to pull off any of the counterattacks they had feared and instead conceded the decisive goal from Edoardo Bove (63rd minute) just after a counterattack.
Mourinho: “Controlled Emotions”
“This goal gives us a small advantage now,” said Mourinho, avoiding any kind of challenge ahead of next Thursday’s second leg in Leverkusen. The Portuguese spoke of “controlled emotions” that are necessary in such important games. He himself exemplified this on the sidelines: while Alonso kept trying to influence the game with wild gestures, Mourinho followed the game rather stoically with his hands in his pockets.
The 60-year-old knows how to win international trophies: With FC Porto, Inter Milan, Manchester United and Roma, he has won two Champions Leagues and one success each in the UEFA Cup, Europa League and Conference League. Mourinho has won all of his five European finals so far.
Some time ago he sparked great euphoria among the fans in Rome – on Thursday the supporters welcomed the team on arrival at the stadium with Bengali torches, smoke rockets and battle cries. Mourinho was impressed.
The players give everything for the team and their coach. Striker Tammy Abraham said at DAZN: “We also want to do the ugly things, defend and give 100 percent on the field.” He promised the same for the second leg in Germany: “We have to sacrifice ourselves again.”