Jose Mourinho was defeated in his first European final on Wednesday as Roma lost to Europa League kings Sevilla on penalties.
Contesting his sixth final in a Uefa competition, Mourinho could only watch as his players lost their nerve in the shoot-out, losing 4-1 on penalties after the match had finished 1-1 after extra time.
What he said
The Portuguese, 60, threw his future at the club into doubt after the match, saying he was “too tired to do the job as a trainer, as a spokesman of the club, to fight every time”.
Mourinho told reporters that questions over his future were “not important at the moment”, adding he was looking forward to going on holiday at the end of the season.
Roma are sixth in Serie A with one match remaining and cannot catch AC Milan, who finished fourth to take Italy's final Champions League berth for next season.
First European final defeat
Mourinho had never lost a European final before Wednesday, having last year led Roma to the inaugural Europa Conference League title, becoming the first coach to win all the European trophies.
Losing was clearly a painful experience for the Portuguese manager, who handed his runners-up medal to a fan in the stand after the presentation.
“That's what I did, I don't want silver medals. I don't keep silver medals, so I gave it away,” he told Movistar.
Mourinho told ITV Italy after the game: “I’ve won five finals and I lost this one, but I’m coming back home proud again. The boys gave everything.
“We felt pressure against a team that has more talent than us. We lost a game but not dignity.
“I’ve never gone home prouder than today, even when I won. We had also worked hard on penalties but … we missed two – but all together, not only the penalty takers.”
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Sevilla's Moroccan goalkeeper Bono celebrates after saving two spot kicks in the shootout to win the Europa League final 4-1 on penalties against Roma at the Puskas Arena in Budapest, on May 31, 2023. Reuters -
Bono celebrates with Gonzalo Montiel, who struck the winning penalty for Sevilla. AFP -
Sevilla's players celebrate with fans. Getty -
Sevilla's goalkeeper Bono saves a penalty by Gianluca Mancini in the penalty shootout. AP -
Sevilla's Gonzalo Montiel scores the winning penalty. AP -
Sevilla's Bono saves a penalty from Roma's Roger Ibanez during the shoot-out. Reuters -
Sevilla's Bono in action during the penalty shoot-out. Reuters -
Sevilla's Youssef En-Nesyri and Lucas Ocampos celebrate after AS Roma's Gianluca Mancini scored an own goal. Reuters -
Roma's Gianluca Mancini, right, scores an own goal to level the scores. AP -
Gianluca Mancini of AS Roma reacts after scoring an own goal. Getty -
Roma's Gianluca Mancini, centre, reacts after scoring an own goal. AP -
Roma's Paulo Dybala celebrates after scoring their first goal against Sevilla. AP -
Paulo Dybala is mobbed by Roma teammates after scoring their first goal. AP P -
Roma's Paulo Dybala scores their first goal. Reuters -
Roma's Paulo Dybala scores their opening goal. AP -
Roma manager Jose Mourinho reacts on the touchline. Getty -
Roma manager Jose Mourinho confronts fourth official Michael Oliver after referee Anthony Taylor awarded a penalty to Sevilla that was later overturned following a VAR check. Getty -
Sevilla goalkeeper Bono makes a save from Roma's Leonardo Spinazzola. AP -
Ivan Rakitic of Sevilla shoots and hits the post. Getty -
Sevilla's Ivan Rakitic hits the post as Roma's Rui Patricio dives. Reuters -
Referee Anthony Taylor calls for medics after a clash of heads between Sevilla's Nemanja Gudelj and Roma's Roger Ibanez. AFP -
Roma manager Jose Mourinho embraces Sevilla's Jose Luis Mendilibar before kick-off. AFP
Link with PSG
Mourinho has been rumoured to take over at Paris Saint-Germain next season where the future of current head coach Christophe Galtier looks increasingly uncertain.
Former Chelsea, Real Madrid and Manchester United boss Mourinho has a contract at Roma until June 2024 and told Sky Sports Italia after Wednesday's defeat: “I spoke to the club in December when I had that approach from the Portuguese national team.
“I have not had any contact with anyone else since then. I have a year left on my contract and this is the situation.”
On referee Anthony Taylor
Mourinho criticised referee Anthony Taylor, adding that the Englishman showed too many yellow cards.
“It was an intense, masculine, vibrant game with a referee who seemed Spanish. It was yellow, yellow, yellow all the time,” he said.
“We are accustomed to the influence of referees in our games; it's nothing new, but I didn't expect it in a European final.”
Europa League final ratings
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SEVILLA RATINGS: Bono - 8. Made a huge early save from Spinazzola to keep the scoreline level. Produced a brilliant save to deny Abraham from close range in the 67th minute. Saved Mancini’s spot-kick with his legs to give Sevilla the advantage and then tipped Ibanez's shot on to the post. EPA -
Jesus Navas - 7. Another exemplary performance from Navas at right-back. The Sevilla captain inspired the equalizer by beating Spinazzola at the near post and whipping a tantalizing cross into the danger area for Mancini to deflect into his goal. Getty -
Loic Bade - 6. Did well to intercept a quick one-two between Abraham and Pellegrini that could have put Pellegrini through on goal. Made a good defensive header to intercept a long pass into Belotti in the 100th minute. Getty -
Nemanja Gudelj - 8. The most impressive of Sevilla’s centre-backs, Gudelj made several blocks and interceptions. Brave defensive header to stop Ibanez from testing Bono in the second minute. EPA -
Alex Telles - 6, Could only hit his shot high and wide when he had a half-chance in the second half. Stuck to his defensive duty in the first half and got forward well in the second as Sevilla went in search of a winner. Getty -
Fernando - 6. A tireless worker at the base of Sevilla’s midfield. Very lucky not to have been penalised for a blatant handball in the penalty area. Dragged his effort wide from the edge of the penalty area late in the second half. AP -
Ivan Rakitic - 6. At fault for Roma’s opener as he lost possession to Matic in his own half. Went very close to making amends for his error when he crashed a first-time left-footed effort against the bar in first-half added time. Dispatched his spot-kick with great precision. Getty -
Lucas Ocampos - 6. Struggled to get involved in the first half but improved in the second half as Sevilla piled on the pressure. Thought he had won a penalty for Sevilla after what looked like a trip from Mancini but VAR ruled that he dived. EPA -
Oliver Torres - 3. Another player who struggled to get involved for Sevilla in the first half and was deservedly hooked off at half-time. AP -
Bryan Gil - 3. A willing runner but Roma’s physical style of play meant he struggled to get on the ball in the first half. PA -
Youssef En-Nesyri - 6. Got his first sight of goal in the 39th minute, but he failed to get enough on his header to beat Patricio. Had a chance to become the hero in second half of added time, but he failed to direct his header from close range. EPA -
SUBS: Suso (Torres, 46') - 7. His introduction alongside Lamela sparked the Sevilla attack into life. Saw his long-range effort deflected wide in the 85th minute. Put Rui Patricio to work with a well-hit long-range effort in the last minute of the second half. AFP -
Erik Lamela (Gil, 46') - 4. Brought on at half-time, Lamela failed to make the same impact as Suso. His frustrations became more apparent in extra time as he was booked for a reckless elbow on Ibanez. AP -
Karim Rekik (Telles, 94') - N/A. Tasked with replacing Telles at left-back, Rekik wasn’t as adventurous as Telles, but he stuck to his defensive task well and reduced Roma’s forays down the left-hand side. AP -
Gonzalo Montiel (Navas, 95') - N/A. Got close to creating the biggest moment of the game, but his cutback in the 120th minute was intercepted by Llorente. Just like he did for Argentina at the World Cup, Montiel stepped up to win the Europa League for Sevilla with a well-taken penalty kick. Getty -
Joan Jordan (Fernando, 120+9') - N/A. Getty; Marcao (Gudelj, 120+8') - N/A. -
ROMA RATINGS: Rui Patricio - 6. The woodwork came to his rescue after he was well beaten by Raktic’s effort from range on the stroke of half-time. Kept Roma in the game with a last-minute save to deny Suso. AP -
Gianluca Mancini - 5. Showed great vision to pick out Dybala for the opener. Unlucky to deflect Navas’s cross past Rui Patricio while trying to stop the cross from reaching Ocampos. Missed his penalty to give Roma the advantage. AP -
Roger Ibanez - 6. Part of a disciplined Roma backline. Failed to get the right connection with the ball when he had a chance from range in the 67th minute. Missed his spot kick to give Sevilla added advantage. AFP -
Chris Smalling - 8. A clear contender for the man-of-the-match award. His height was crucial in winning aerial challenges against En-Nesyri in the first half. Came close to scoring in the second half, but Bono was equal to his header. Hit the bar with a header in the last minute of extra time. Getty -
Zeki Celik - 7. Great vision to pick out Spinazzola with a sweeping cutback. Did a good job as a right-wing back and kept the duo of Bryan Gil and Lamela quiet. Reuters -
Leonardo Spinazzola - 5. Should have put Jose Mourinho’s side in front when Celik played him in, but he could only shoot straight at Bono from 12 yards out. Beaten far too easily at the corner flag by Jesus in the build-up to Sevilla’s equalizer. AP -
Nemanja Matic - 7. A rock in the centre of Roma’s midfield, Matic began the move that led to Roma’s opener by winning the ball from Rakitic in the opposition's half. Getty -
Bryan Cristante - 7. Worked very hard next to Matic in the middle of the field and helped to provide adequate cover for the Roma defence as Sevilla took control of proceedings in the second half. Getty -
Paulo Dybala - 7. Sent the Roma fans into raptures by opening the scoring with a left-footed effort into the bottom corner. Displayed excellent footwork to get past three Sevilla defenders and to pick out Pellegrini in the penalty area. AP -
Lorenzo Pellegrini - 5. The least influential of Roma’s starting front three. Picked up a needless yellow card for a dive in the 43rd minute. AP -
Tammy Abraham - 6. Came close to having a say in the final in the 67th minute, but Bono saved his effort from close range. Didn’t get enough chances to make a difference in the final third. Reuters -
SUBS: Georginio Wijnaldum (Dybala, 68') - 6. Brought on to add more bodies to Roma’s midfield and help relieve the pressure as Sevilla took control of the game in the second half. The Netherlands international worked hard and helped protect the defence. Reuters -
Andrea Belotti (Abraham, 75') - 5. Miscued his shot when he had a good chance to beat Bono from close range. Denied by a Gudelj in the first half of extra time. Getty -
Nicola Zalewski (Celik, 91') - N/A. Looked lively after coming as he attacked with vigour and tried to make things happen in the final third. Whipped in a dangerous freekick that Bono punched clear in the last minute of extra time. Reuters -
Stephan El Shaarawy (Pellegrini, 106') - N/A. A willing runner after coming on but didn't get a chance to test Bono. Getty -
Diego Llorente (Spinazzola, 106') - N/A. Asked to fill in at left-back, Llorente stuck to his job well. Provided a crucial interception to stop Montiel’s pass into En-Nesyri. Getty -
Edoardo Bove (Matic, 119') - N/A. AFP
