Mendilibar, Mou’s student, now challenges the teacher | Sports

Not even a Sevilla player would have imagined just a few months ago that they would close the season with revelry and a pilgrimage to Budapest. Part of the blame lies with a serene man. Also restless. José Luis Mendilibar, who faces his first final at the age of 62, nothing more and nothing less than one of the Europa League. The Basque has always been interested in training and seeing the work method of other coaches. One of the systems that he studied was that of his rival in this European final, that of José Mourinho. It happened during the Portuguese stage in Madrid, in his second year, when Mendilibar appeared at the sports city to see live how the Madrid coach worked. Mendi and his trusted man, the physical trainer Toni Ruiz, whom he met in his first stage in Lanzarote. Mendilibar saw two work sessions of the Portuguese and also a game. The coach, who was coaching Osasuna at the time, never met the Portuguese coach in person. He and Ruiz were cared for by Mourinho’s assistants, especially by Aitor Karanka, with whom Mendi has a good relationship. “They treated me phenomenally,” recalls the current Sevilla coach, who has faced Mou four times in LaLiga, with a balance of three defeats and a draw in favor of the Portuguese.

A decade later, the two coaches meet again in a very special situation. Mendilibar’s first European final. The sixth for Mourinho, who has won all the ones he has directed. Two of the Champions League with Porto (2004) and Inter (2010). Two from the Europa League with Porto (2003) and Manchester United (2017); and one from the Conference League with Roma (2022). 225 matches hold the record of a coach known throughout the world. At 60, he has directed in Italy, Spain and England with success.

With so much experience behind him, Mourinho had no problem joking with the Spanish press who asked him at the press conference prior to the final. “You say that Sevilla is not a favourite, but I have many players in Roma who are from the subsidiary and Sevilla have very important players. Mendilibar and I already have a lot of gray hair and Sevilla is a favourite”, the Roma coach clarified jokingly. The Italian team only has one European title in its history, the Conference League won last year with the Portuguese on the bench.

Mendilibar has played six matches in European competitions. Two with Athletic and four with this Sevilla that aspires to achieve its seventh Europa League: four high-intensity clashes against Manchester United and Juventus, with a balance of two wins and two draws. After rehabilitating Sevilla in the League and saving it from relegation (the team fell to penultimate place on matchday 17), his renewal is close no matter what happens in the final.

“Since I arrived they told me about the Europa League and they gave me the name of Budapest. We have options to win this final”, said Mendilibar, who referred to the words that Mourinho dedicated to him. “I have gray hair, but he has it before me. I thank him for his words towards me and towards Sevilla. But compliments and history do not win the finals. It will be a very difficult game”, clarified the coach.

“Today I will sleep well because we got up very early,” joked the coach, who alluded to his future at the entity. “I signed for two months and that’s why I came. I am very calm. I have been enjoying football since I arrived at Sevilla ”, he stressed. And what’s left.

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