Mourinho, win or lose, said: "This final is history"

José Mourinho, a winner like him, did not want to miss the chance to win the fifth European title of his coaching career. However, at the press conference before the Conference League final tomorrow against Feyenoord in Tirana, the Portuguese coach wanted to clarify that whatever the result, Roma have already made history.

“It was a moment full of meaning. We won the first final on Friday (0-3 against Torino on the last day of Serie A) and that way we qualified for the Europa League, but in Turin we couldn’t write a history. For Roma to finish in sixth place is a normal position, “Mourinho said.

And he added: “This final, however, is something else. It’s history because it came after so many years of losing. Therefore, we must do everything possible to win. I don’t believe in magic potions, only in the day-to-day routine. and in the work of the squad and the team. Whatever happens, this is a positive season for me “.

And it is that Roma have not played a European final since the UEFA Cup that they lost in 1991 against Inter.

Avoid the spotlight

Mourinho tried to avoid the spotlight. “My charisma can’t make a difference. In the last game of the season the job is done. Leadership can’t be put on the table, it’s part of a process. The coaches are gone, we try to help, to read the game. So until tomorrow I don’t have it in mind “.

Mourinho faces the eighth European final as coach at the age of 59, but in his opinion “the experience doesn’t help, I hope so, but I feel the same as when I was preparing for the first final, after twenty years nothing has changed. ” The first in which he participated was in 2003 when he won the Europa League with Porto against Celtic in Seville (3-2).

Mourinho is not superstitious. “I’m one of the few who isn’t into football as well as others. I don’t care what jersey we play. I’m thinking of Feyenoord, who like many Dutch teams has a good tradition.”

Albania, with Rome for Kumbulla

Mourinho knows that Albanian fans are often with Roma, although thousands of ‘tifosi’ will come to Tirana to support the team. “The feeling is there because we have an Albanian player: if we win, an Albanian will raise the cup,” he recalled referring to central defender Marash Kumbulla.

Finally, Mourinho was pleased with how his players reached the final. “We handled the euphoria well, we didn’t need extra tension. The goal in Serie A was achieved and it turned out to be the best way to just think about this final. We haven’t left Trigoria (training center) since Friday and the players are very good. They have joy, focus and the right tension.

Everything was going well during these hours before the final. Even Henrykh Mkhitaryan can play. “Now for the first time he trains with the team. It was a short session, but I have a lot of confidence in his experience, the sensations in his body,” Mourinho confirmed.