José Mourinho has relaunched Roma by reaching two European Finals in a row, but the Special One has also found an ideal environment at the Stadio Olimpico to revitalise his career, writes Lorenzo Bettoni.
Mourinho couldn’t be more proud of his players on Thursday night after a hard-fought 0-0 draw away at Bayer Leverkusen that sent the Giallorossi to their second consecutive European Final.
“The boys give everything, this game is the result of our work, experience, tactical wisdom, and knowing how to stay in matches. It’s an incredible team,” said the Special One.
Roma won their first major European trophy last season beating Feyenoord in the Conference League Final and aim to do the same this term in Europa League against Sevilla at the Puskas Arena in Budapest on May 31, 2023.
The Giallorossi may have lost sight of the top four in Serie A, but their path in Europe across the last two seasons has been impressive and it’s safe to say Mourinho has already made history in the Capital.
The last time the club had lifted a trophy before the Conference League in 2021-22 was in 2007-08 when they won the Coppa Italia under Luciano Spalletti. This alone explains that winning in Rome should never be seen as a simple accomplishment.
Mourinho’s experience and charisma have guided a committed group of players and a passionate fanbase which has consistently backed the coach, no matter what. Mou’s playing style does not help sell tickets, but the man alone does. Roma played almost every home game in a sold-out Stadio Olimpico this season and players have never lacked support despite their highs and lows in Serie A.
The sense of unity and stability that Mourinho has brought to the club is one of the secrets of his successful spell in the Capital and it was not obvious to predict when the Portuguese was appointed two years ago.
Mourinho landed in Rome after two consecutive sackings in the Premier League: first in 2018 at Manchester United and then at Tottenham in 2021. Many thought he was a ‘finished’ coach but the results he has achieved with Roma prove otherwise.
Roma’s disappointing results in Serie A may suggest the Special One has not fulfilled all his tasks in the Capital, but the coach is not wrong when he says that the team is not deep enough to compete on two or three fronts. And look at the other top sides in Serie A.
Napoli dominated the league but were eliminated – somehow surprisingly – by Milan in the Champions League quarter-finals. Inter have never been credible contenders for the Scudetto this season but they will play for the Cup with the Big Ears against Manchester City in Istanbul on June 10. Juventus and Milan will finish the season with no trophies and even Conference League finalists Fiorentina have never been in the race for a European placement in Serie A. Across the Old Continent, only Manchester City are close to completing a treble.
Regardless of how the Europa League Final against Sevilla goes, Mourinho has revitalised his career in Rome, a place that has offered him the best tools – on and off the pitch – to thrive again.
The Giallorossi are dealing with FFP restrictions and only invested €7m in the summer transfer window, despite the signings of Paulo Dybala and Nemanja Matic as free agents. They didn’t even sign a replacement for Nicolò Zaniolo, the match-winner in last season’s Conference League Final, when the Italian left in the winter transfer window.
Nevertheless, Mourinho has managed to do what he knows best: to push the players, the fans and the club all in the same direction. At times, there has been tension across the last 24 months, but Mou has always remained in control, never losing the dressing room as had happened in Manchester and north London.
As a result, Roma are great again under the Special One, but even Mourinho has to thank the Giallorossi because, despite all issues, he’s managed to revive his career in the Capital. Whether it will last for another year, until the end of his contract in 2024, is another story, for now, the Giallorossi and Mou must enjoy what they have achieved so far, hoping to write one more chapter in the club’s history at the end of the month.
@lorebetto