MY ACCOUNT
Jose Mourinho is aiming to guide Roma to a second successive European trophy — but rumours suggesting he could leave the club this summer continue to circulate.
Last season, the Serie A giants beat Feyenoord 1-0 in the inaugural Europa Conference League final, ending a 14-year wait for silverware.
They now face the Dutch side in the Europa League quarter-finals, with the winners of Bayer Leverkusen’s tie with Union Saint-Gilloise to come in the semis.
As Roma renew acquaintances with their old foes tonight, we take a look at Mourinho’s chances of winning yet another cup and what it could mean for his future.
Favourable draw
Roma and Feyenoord have both improved since colliding final last May.
The Dutch club are set to win the Eredivisie title. And while Mourinho’s side have not quite made such strides, they should finish with a better points total than last season.
In the Special One’s debut campaign, Roma finished sixth with 63 points. This time, they have already amassed 53 points with nine games to go.
Currently third in the table, Champions League qualification is a possibility — but far from guaranteed — with the Giallorossi competing with Lazio, AC Milan, Inter Milan and Atalanta for the spots alongside likely champions Napoli.
The Europa League provides another possible pathway to Europe’s top competition and Roma are on the most favourable side of the draw should they get through this tricky tie.
Still relevant
Winning a trophy in his debut season at a club is nothing new for Mourinho but it was an impressive feat at Roma, considering their long wait for any kind of silverware.
It followed the 60-year-old’s failure to do likewise at Tottenham, though it should be remembered he guided them to a Carabao Cup final, only to be sacked before it was contested.
The Europa Conference League victory suggests Mourinho can still be a relevant force in the modern game, while a Europa League win would really strengthen that argument.
A return to London for a third spell at Chelsea has been suggested as a possibility, with the veteran manager having delivered three Premier League titles and numerous cups for the Blues.
Paris Saint-Germain are another big club likely to be looking for a manager this summer and Mourinho is reportedly open to leaving Roma for either of these opportunities.
Trophy hunt
As fascinating as a return to the Premier League with Chelsea might prove, there now seems to be a commitment to investing in young players at Stamford Bridge, which would seem at odds with Mourinho’s approach.
PSG might be a more natural fit and would provide a platform for the coach to win a league title in another country, having already done so in Portugal, England, Italy and Spain.
In total, Mourinho has lifted 26 senior trophies across his managerial career. The frequency has reduced in recent years, as has the perceived importance of what has been won.
Yet for a club like Roma, who have never quite managed to attain the success you would expect from such a well-supported outfit, any taste of glory is significant.
If Mourinho can bring a second trophy to the Italian capital, it could be seen as a sign that he remains ready for another crack at the big time.
