Mourinho overlooks Europe from 'happy home'

Portuguese coach Jose Mourinho is looking for more continental glory with Roma when he faces Sevilla in the Europa League final on Wednesday (23:00 UAE time), in his quest for a second consecutive European title with the capital club.
The 60-year-old Portuguese has written his name in the annals of the round ball as a coach who has never lost a European final in his career, lifting 5 trophies in five finals in two decades, making him the first coach to reach the final of European competitions with 4 different clubs (Porto, Inter, Manchester United and Roma).
Mourinho was in the spotlight in 2003 when he led Porto to the UEFA Cup (now Europa League), before the following world winning his first of two Champions League titles.
After 20 years, the Portuguese man looks poised to take his tally to six with Roma, who tasted victories with Mourinho last year by winning the first edition of the Conference League, the third most important in the old continent.
The Italian capital has become the "happy home" for a coach who seemed exhausted during his failed passage with Tottenham Hotspur (2019-2021).
Mourinho told reporters on Thursday: "Better coach, better person, same DNA. DNA is motivation, happiness. The desire for these big moments, and these are the feelings that I try to convey to the players."
"I think you can be better and better with your expertise. I think your mind gets sharper and the accumulation of knowledge is better as the years go by."
"I think you stop when you lose motivation, my motivation grows every day. I think I'm better now."
Mourinho was consecrated as a national hero by Roma fans after the team won their first-ever major European title last season, a victory that left the veteran Portuguese shed tears.
A deep emotional relationship developed between the coach and the Wolves fans, who have waited since 2008 to see Roma win a title, specifically since winning the domestic cup.
Mourinho's story with Roma is similar to that of the one he lived for a short time with Inter 13 years ago, during which he led them to a historic treble of league, cup and Champions League in 2009-2010.
Mourinho stressed that what is happening is a return "because I give everything... People are not stupid. In the case of Roma I think it's about winning or the European finals. I think they feel like I'm wearing a shirt and fighting for them every day."
"Maybe people think you can't love every club. Yes, I love every club. I love every club because I felt the opposite they love me too. So with Roma, one day it will be difficult but we will be connected forever."

Doubts about Dybala

Roma reach the final with many question marks about their fluctuating form and burdened with many injuries that have exhausted them throughout the current season.
The best example of the decline in the level of coach Mourinho's men is their inability to win only twice in their last ten matches, and they achieved this at home in the quarter-finals and semi-finals against Feyenoord Rotterdam (4-1) and Bayer Leverkusen (1-15) respectively, to reach Roma final on Wednesday evening in the Hungarian capital Budapest.
The starting line-up almost certainly does not include injured Argentine star Paulo Dybala, who has suffered an ankle problem since being hampered by fellow Atalanta defender Jose Palomino a month ago, but he hopes to be on the bench.
Asked if there was any chance of Dybala being put in the starting line-up, Mourinho said: "I don't think so, honestly, I don't think so."
"However, if I want to speak frankly I hope he will be on the bench. If Paulo can get on the bench and give me 2010 minutes of effort, I'll be happy."
Mourinho's future is also in doubt after this season, with Wednesday's final likely to be the Portuguese's final in Rome.
His departure after two years and winning a second European title will reflect the image of his previous departure from Inter in <>, when he moved to Real Madrid immediately after lifting the Champions League trophy in the Spanish capital.
Mourinho said: "The only thing I'm focused on is the final. I don't think about my future or anything else. Everything else becomes secondary when you have to play a final."
"I don't think about myself, I think about the players and the fans... We want to play and on Wednesday we'll be there."