Jose Mourinho unconcerned with legacy as Lorenzo Pellegrini celebrates 'different' Roma manager
/dnl.eurosport.com/sd/img/placeholder/eurosport_logo_1x1.png){kind=logo}
Published 19/05/2023 at 08:15 GMT
Roma manager Jose Mourinho once called himself "the special one" when introducing himself to the press, but after his Roma team's progression to the Europa League final with an aggregate win over Bayer Leverkusen, he focused his praise not just on his players, but on the Italian club's fans. Captain Lorenzo Pellegrini paid tribute to his manager for his work.
‘We want to play an extraordinary match to reach the final’ - Mourinho
Jose Mourinho claimed that he is less concerned with his legacy than he is with helping his Roma players win the Europa League and reward the club’s fans.
Mourinho became the first manager to win the Champions League, Europa League and Europa Conference League when he won the latter with the Serie A side last year.
While the club sit sixth in the table and have little hope of claiming Champions League football through domestic achievements, they earned a spot in the Europa League final against Sevilla after a battling performance against Bayer Leverkusen on Thursday night in Germany.
A win in their season finale would give them Champions League football, and speaking after the match to Sky Sports, the Portuguese manager said he was focused on helping his players.
"My concern isn't marking my place in the Roma history books," Mourinho said. "It's helping these kids [players] to grow, to achieve important things.
"It's also helping the Roma fans who have given me so much since day one. It's an immense joy to get to another 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."
Discussing the club’s fans, he said: "I don't know if I can ask anything more from the fans, but these boys deserve something special on Monday when we depart Trigoria the club’s [training ground]."
Roma captain Lorenzo Pellegrini was keen to pay tribute to his manager.
"He's different, he makes you realise the importance of the match," Pellegrini said. "We came here and everyone knew what they had to do.
"We study, we organise ourselves, we watch videos. Especially in Europe, you can see what the coach brings us. Mourinho is the creator of this personality of ours."
Roma will play Sevilla in the Europa League final on May 31 in Budapest.
Scan me
Related Topics
Share this article
Advertisement
Advertisement