Budapest Final Lingers in Mourinho’s Memory
«The final in Budapest is the peak of this connection. For me the final ends, we go on vacation and, when I return, I return dead. The UEFA killed me, making me pay for something that was not my responsibility,» José Mourinho said regarding the fallout from the 2023 UEFA Europa League final.
That 2023 defeat in Budapest stands as one of the most painful European setbacks in José Mourinho’s long coaching career. Managed then by the Portuguese coach, AS Roma fell to Sevilla FC. According to interviews given by the manager, the sting of that loss extended far beyond the pitch, ultimately contributing to his departure from the Italian club months later.
🚨 #Mourinho attende lo staff arbitrale per lamentarsi: 'You're fucking disgrace. Anche Rosetti ha detto che non era (rigore) e tu non sei stato capace'#asroma 🟡🟠🔴 pic.twitter.com/RC1ejdT9H1
Mourinho pointed directly to the disciplinary fallout from the match as the catalyst for his exit from Rome. Following the final, Mourinho confronted English referee Anthony Taylor in the stadium garage, an incident penalized by UEFA. While accepting blame for his own remarks to the official, Mourinho argued that subsequent sanctions and pressure from the club’s ownership, the Friedkin family, fractured his position.
«I paid also for the relationship I had with the ownership of Roma,» Mourinho stated in recent remarks. «The owners had a different approach than mine regarding what happened in the final. I returned already dead and a few months later I was out.» He added that he felt his dismissal was effectively sealed the night of the Budapest match.
European and Domestic History Against Sevilla
The 2023 Europa League defeat was not the first time Sevilla eliminated a Mourinho-led side on the continental stage. In the 2017 UEFA Champions League round of 16, Sevilla defeated Manchester United under Mourinho’s guidance.
Mourinho downplayed that Champions League exit at the time. «We controlled the match in Seville and didn’t score. They controlled here and had the luck to score. Let them be happy for the quarter-finals,» he said then. «I myself already eliminated Manchester United here twice, once with Porto and once with Real Madrid. It is not a novelty for the club.»
In domestic competition, however, the statistical record between Mourinho and Sevilla presents a different narrative. Across his tenure in Spanish football, Mourinho faced Sevilla multiple times in LaLiga and the Copa del Rey. During the 2010-11 Copa del Rey semi-finals, his Real Madrid side advanced past Sevilla with a 0-1 away win via a Benzema goal followed by a 2-0 victory at the Santiago Bernabéu with goals from Ozil and Adebayor.
Sevilla Manager Prepares for Familiar Rival
Luis García Plaza offered praise for his counterpart’s career and competitive intensity. García Plaza acknowledged the historical weight surrounding the fixtures while highlighting the managerial pedigree of the Portuguese coach.
«His resume speaks for itself. He goes to Roma and they chant his name, they bring out a banner… He is one of the best coaches in the world,» García Plaza said. The manager also reflected on past encounters against teams managed by Mourinho during spells in Spanish football.
The rivalry between Mourinho and Sevilla continues to carry weight within Spanish football circles, driven by past continental heartbreak and domestic clashes. As preparations continue for upcoming fixtures, the lingering memory of the Budapest defeat remains a defining chapter in the history between the coach and the Andalusian club.
