AS Roma manager Jose Mourinho is aiming to put himself in the history book of the European Conference League as he aims to become the first coach to win the tournament.
This is the inaugural edition of the third-tier European club competition, and Roma has secured the final ticket. They will trade tackle with Dutch club Feyenoord.
Roma booked the final ticket after moving past English side Leicester City 2-1 on aggregate. Having secured a 1-1 draw in the first leg at the King Power Stadium last week, Tammy Abraham did the needful for the Gialorossi by netting the only goal of the game that takes them to the final against the Dutch side.
The English striker got the solitary strike with his head from an early corner, and it proved enough to secure passage to the Final.
Feyenoord, on their part, qualified for the final after defeating Olympique Marseille 3-2 on aggregate. It was a goalless affair in France as the five goals were scored in the first leg.
Mourinho noted that Roma reached the Conference League final as a family and said they now want to win it.
The final is scheduled to hold in Tirana on May 25, three days before the UEFA Champions League final between Liverpool and Real Madrid. This is also the first major European Final for the Giallorossi since 1991.
Speaking with Sky Sports Italia after the game, the exhausted former Manchester United manager said it was a victory for the family, adding that it is the club’s greatest achievement.
While noting that empathy and a sense of family have been created with the fans, Mourinho described their performance as extraordinary.
He lauded the goalie, Rio Patricio, for making two saves over 120 minutes against a Premier League side with so much attacking quality. This, he said, means the club have done something good.
Mourinho is the first coach to reach a UEFA Final with four different clubs (Porto, Inter, Manchester United, and Roma). He is now on the brink of becoming the first manager to win the Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League.
This could be coincidental as the Special One was also the last manager to win a European trophy for a Serie A club, Inter Milan, in 2010.
Written by: Oladipupo Mojeed
