Former Man Utd and Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho was doused in champagne during his post-match press conference after lifting the inaugural Europa Conference League title.
The Portuguese schemer led AS Roma to the trophy against a stubborn Feyenoord side in Tirana, Nicolo Zaniolo’s first-half strike proving enough for the Italian giants. In all, it was Mourinho’s fifth major European title having twice lifted the Europa League with Porto and Man Utd, whilst he also has two Champions League crowns to his name.
It is certainly quite an achievement with Roma having never tasted European glory, whilst their previous silverware came all the way back in 2008 with a Coppa Italia success.
Mourinho was certainly at the heart of the celebrations alongside his players following the match, whilst his post-match media commitments were also interrupted. A number of Roma players stormed the manager’s press conference and doused him in beer.
Mourinho was then forced to leave the conference and continue the celebrations elsewhere in the Arena Kombëtare. He still however had time to hail Roma’s achievement on the night having set their sights on glory in the competition as far back as September having opened their campaign with a group clash against CSKA Sofia.
Speaking to Sky Sport Italia after the full-time whistle, Mourinho said: “There are so many things going through my head. So many things at the same time.
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“I've been at Roma for 11 months, I realised the moment I arrived what it meant, they were waiting for this. As I told the lads in the locker room in Turin, we did what we needed to do, qualify for the Europa League. We had great work all season.
“This was not work tonight, this was history. We had to write history. We wrote it.
“The Conference League is a competition that we had the sensation from the start we could win, but it got a stronger competition when the Europa League teams came in, Leicester City, Olympique Marseille and Feyenoord. But we were counting on it, we could've had a few more points in Serie A, but we put so much into this competition.”
Elsewhere, Tammy Abraham has been highly complimentary of his head coach having previously hailed his impact upon his personal performances, the England striker netting nine goals for Roma in the Conference League this season.
Speaking ahead of the semi-final showdown with Leicester City, he said: “He knows how to really drive you, and this is what I needed. I needed someone who can push me and bring the best out of me.
“He’s one of them managers who doesn’t have to tell you how good you are and how good you played. He always wants more and for me and the players this is the perfect manager. Jose is for me probably one of the best coaches to have ever walked on planet Earth.”
