Jose Mourinho had never lost a European final before Wednesday, but, yesterday, he had to settle for a silver medal, after Sevilla beat his team AS Roma 4-1 on penalties in the Europa League final.
A disappointed Mourinho, later, gave away the loser's medal to a young fan in the crowd. “That’s what I did, I don’t want silver medals. I don’t keep silver medals, so I gave it away,” he was quoted as saying by Movistar.
Jose Mourinho threw his Europa League runners-up medal into the crowd after the Europa League final.#UELfinal #UEFAEuropaLeague #SevillaRoma #SEVASR pic.twitter.com/Ky3qLKuslV
— Obinna Michael (@Obinnamichael02) May 31, 2023
He was also caught on camera, abusing referee Anthony Taylor, calling him a “f***ing disgrace”. He criticised the referee for showing too many yellow cards.
Mourinho going nuclear on Anthony Taylor ☢️ pic.twitter.com/p0UHgT4B8m
— Nima Tavallaey Roodsari (@NimaTavRood) May 31, 2023
After the match ended 1-1 in regular time, the match went into extra-time but the deadlock was not broken. Sevilla ran away with the match in the shootout, with Gonzalo Montiel, who scored the winning penalty for Argentina in the World Cup final against France, firing home the winning spot-kick. It was Sevilla's seventh title in the competition.
“I have won five finals and I lost this one, but I am coming back home proud again,” Mourinho told Sky Sport Italy. “The boys gave everything.”
Gianluca Mancini and Roger Ibanez failed to convert for Roma from the spot against Sevilla goalkeeper Yassine Bounou. Montiel missed his first attempt but had another chance after Patrcio was judged to have come off his line.
Sevilla have never lost a final it has contested in the Europa League or its precursor, the UEFA Cup - the team also won the competition in 2006, '07, '14, '15, '16 and '20 - and secured a place in next season's Champions League.
Before the final, Mourinho actually had more European title wins than Sevilla coach Jos Luis Mendilibar had total games managed in those same competitions.
Paulo Dybala had put Roma ahead in the 35th minute at Pusks Arna in the Hungarian capital. Mancini sent a through ball for Dybala, who netted past Bounou with a low left-foot shot. The Argentina forward had recovered from an ankle injury in time to be declared fit for the final.
It was Dybala's fifth goal of the Europa League, and 17th overall this season.
Sevilla equalised through Mancini's own-goal 10 minutes into the second half when he was under pressure from Youssef En-Nesyri. Captain Jess Navas set up the goal with a cross from the right.
(With PTI inputs)
