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The Roma boss has thrown everything he has at another shot at European glory, effectively surrendering a top-four berth in Serie A.
The hugs at full-time demonstrated the togetherness at Roma. An elated Jose Mourinho was all smiles as he approached Tammy Abraham after an exhausting night against Bayer Leverkusen at the BayArena.
The Giallorossi were through to consecutive European finals, having competed in and won last year’s Europa Conference League. Mourinho’s soldiers hunkered down against Xabi Alonso’s team, giving little away from open play and set pieces.
The Serie A side forced long shots from the home side, who lacked the composure and precision to combine intricately in the attacking third.
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In fairness, even the most sophisticated side would have struggled to make inroads into the Roma backline.
Bayer shot at goal 23 times, but 15 were low-percentage tries from far out, underscoring the defensive brief of the Giallorossi — who shot at goal once in 90 minutes — and Leverkusen’s impatience.
Mourinho was in his element on Thursday night, uninterested in adding to the slender advantage given to his side by Edoardo Bove seven days back.
The Portuguese, aware of the risks involved — having seen Jeremie Frimpong’s goal-bound effort cleared off the goal-mouth by Bryan Cristante at the Olimpico — stuck to his guns and favoured a rearguard action in achieving this team’s target.
Mourinho chooses the Europa League over Serie A
The Roma boss has repeatedly reiterated that his team cannot compete on all fronts due to a dearth of options and a squad stretched by injuries — a line echoed after a goalless encounter with Bologna on Sunday.
Mourinho’s leaning was evident when Roma hosted Inter Milan at the start of May when the Portuguese boss’ selection suggested he was prioritising the Europa League over pushing for a Champions League spot via a competitive tussle for a top-four berth.
It made sense as there were four league games after hosting the Nerazzurri, whereas a maximum of three games could be played in the Europa League.
Mourinho’s fate in the latter was in his hands: defeat Leverkusen and either Juventus or Sevilla in the final to claim another European honour and earn Roma a Champions League return for the first time since 2018-19.
Despite Juventus’ Serie A situation (more on this below), Roma had few guarantees in the league. It is not surprising that Mourinho put his eggs in the continental basket, and he may have to defeat the most accomplished side in Europa League history to guarantee a return to Europe’s unrivalled club cup competition.
Sevilla’s unforeseen resurgence
Sevilla are on their third manager of 2022-23, but the Andalusians have not lost the spirit that makes them eternally thrive in this competition.
Jose Luis Mendilibar’s mandate was to ensure LaLiga safety, yet the 62-year-old has done that and then some. Sevilla were 14th when the former Athletic Club boss took over from Jorge Sampaoli — who had replaced Julen Lopetegui — and Mendilibar has steered the club away from a relegation scrap.
Two points separated the Seville outfit from 18th place after gameweek 26’s loss at Getafe, but the club now sit in mid-table on 47 points, 13 away from danger.
Sevilla have had to battle Manchester United and Juventus — clubs with nine major European titles combined — to get to a sixth Europa League final since the turn of the Millennium. Los Rojiblancos have never lost the competition’s deciding game.
Mendilibar’s team took advantage of the Red Devils’ egregious game management in their quarter-final first-leg at Old Trafford to draw 2-2 before wiping the floor with Erik ten Hag’s hapless team in Andalusia to win 5-2 on aggregate.
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The Red Devils still cannot get the better of Sevilla, and Erik ten Hag will bemoan his team’s egregious game management at Old Trafford.
Facing Juventus was a bit trickier, as they needed 120 minutes at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan on Thursday to defeat Massimiliano Allegri’s men, coming from behind to win 2-1 on the night and 3-2 in the tie.
Erik Lamela’s header five minutes into an extra 30 sealed the tie, but it could have been different had Federico Chiesa taken his chance less than two minutes earlier.
What next for Juventus?
The Old Lady’s fate for the rest of 2022-23
Still without a major European title since their 1996 Champions League win, continental success continues to elude the Old Lady.
However, that is the least of the Bianconeri’s ongoing issues. We know Juventus had 15 points taken in January when they were found guilty of inflating transfer income to boost capital gains, although they had them restored last month on appeal.
But this fluid saga rumbles on, with the Old Lady still anticipated to be docked nine points (the original penalty requested by the prosecutor Giuseppe Chine) next week. They are expected to appeal whatever punishment is meted out, hoping it counts for next season and not 22-23.
The upshot of a possible nine-point deduction would leave the Old Lady outside the Champions League spots, although a gameweek 37 encounter with AC Milan still leaves their fate in their hands.
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Europe’s secondary club competition offered insurance against anticipated domestic punishment but that is no longer an option for Allegri’s side, who — like Bayer Leverkusen — may have needed Europa League success to play Champions League football next season.
Alonso’s dream is over
Apart from the ambition to return to a European final since 2002 (Champions League defeat by Real Madrid), the desire to end a 34-year wait for a continental crown was not lost on the Leverkusen boss.
Die Schwarzroten’s elimination at the hands of Roma put paid to the possibility of claiming a second European title in the club’s history to follow the 1988 UEFA Cup success.
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Except for Juventus, whose domestic situation is peculiar, every team that played the semis were not guaranteed Champions League football next season, making Europa League success pivotal.
Leverkusen are seventh in the Bundesliga, 10 points adrift of Union Berlin, with only four points to play for.
That is now over, with the competition’s finalists now decided.
The stage is set for Mourinho v Sevilla at the end of the month. The Portuguese manager has never lost a European final in five attempts, and he faces a Seville outfit unbeaten in six Europa League deciders.
One record will undoubtedly tumble in Budapest.
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