Jose Mourinho is on course for a sixth European final as a manager after his Roma side claimed a 1-0 defeat against Bayer Leverkusen at the Stadio Olimpico in the first leg of their Europa League semi-final.
The Portuguese boss was hailed as the ‘King of Rome’ after guiding the Serie A side to the inaugural Europa Conference League title last term.
However, even if their narrowly contested European title bid succeeds, how long will they be able to celebrate in the Italian capital?
Mourinho’s contract at Roma runs until the summer of 2024 but there has been a lot of talk in recent days about upping the ante this summer for an 11th managerial challenge at Paris Saint-Germain.
“If they called, they didn’t get me,” the 60-year-old told Sky Sport Italia on Wednesday, laughing off the speculation.
But Roma’s hopes of reaching the Champions League appear to rest on Europa League glory, with the Giallorossi currently seventh in Italy’s top flight, so could he be tempted when the phone calls?
‘He would like a project that is befitting his legacy’
Mourinho’s record of five wins in five European finals will likely appeal to a club that has a reputation for stumbling on Europe’s biggest stage.
PSG’s failure to progress past Bayern Munich in the last 16 of this term’s Champions League was just the latest painful end to a competition that has become an obsession since Qatar’s takeover in 2011, with current boss Christophe Gaultier is expected to leave eventually. of the campaign.
And while they may have a major squad overhaul on their hands this summer – with the likes of Lionel Messi departing – whoever is in charge will be presented with a sizeable transfer kitty that Roma has set nine million euros. last summer.
“I think Mourinho sees Roma as a way back to another big job,” Italian football journalist James Horncastle told the EuroLeagues podcast.
“He can quite reasonably say that it is a worthy achievement that they have won their first trophy in 14 years and are close to another European final.
“He is someone who ultimately wants to win wherever he goes and I think he feels that at Roma, as long as they don’t change tactics and spend more money, they can deliver the league title. Will not be.
“He would love a project that lives up to his legacy, the chance to compete for the Champions League.”
‘If he is backed he is the manager for PSG’
Mourinho’s reputation may have been damaged in the short term by the style of his departures from Manchester United and Tottenham, but he remains one of the biggest names in football management.
He is also a great tactician and able to command respect in a star-studded dressing room.
“PSG need someone who, as soon as they come in, says ‘I don’t want him, I don’t want him, I don’t want him and I’m going to build through it’ and everybody Follows him and the players will go with him,” said Spanish journalist Guillem Balague
“If the club supports him like this, he is the manager of PSG. They don’t need someone to reinvent the wheel, they need someone to organize it from the top and someone Time will have to guide them.”
French football journalist Julien Laurens added: “Who is Jose Mourinho’s best friend and agent? Jorge Mendes? Who is one of Jorge Mendes’ best friends? Luis Campos, who is also PSG’s sporting director.”
“Campos and Mendes speak every day and Mendes is very influential and I believe Mourinho is on the shortlist of managers to replace Christophe Gaultier.
“He may end up as manager, he may not but certainly in Campos, there are favorable grounds.”
