BUDAPEST – AS Roma coach Jose Mourinho said he was uncertain about his future at the club following their 4-1 penalty shoot-out defeat in the Europa League final against Sevilla on Wednesday.
“I’m too tired to do the job as a trainer, as a spokesman of the club, to fight every time,” he said in the immediate aftermath of the defeat.
Mourinho said questions over his future were “not important at the moment”, adding he was looking forward to going on holiday at the end of the season.
The defeat meant Roma failed to qualify for next season’s Champions League and prompted questions about whether the 60-year-old would remain in the Italian capital, having been linked with Paris Saint-Germain.
“I have to fight for these lads and therefore not say objectively that I will remain,” Mourinho told Sky Sports Italia.
“I spoke to the club in December when I had that approach from the Portuguese national team.
“I have not had any contact with anyone else since then. I have a year left on my contract and this is the situation.”
It was Mourinho’s first defeat in a European final, but he said he was proud of his team’s performance and acknowledged that the season had taken its toll.
“We’re physically exhausted, mentally drained, feeling dead because we believe it’s an unjust defeat with numerous debatable incidents.
“We are dead tired, but proud. I always say you can lose a football match, but never your dignity or professionalism...
“I lost this one, but I return home prouder than ever this time. The lads gave absolutely everything this season.”
Mourinho also criticised referee Anthony Taylor, adding that the Englishman showed too many yellow cards.
“It was an intense, masculine, vibrant game with a referee who seemed Spanish. It was yellow, yellow, yellow all the time...
“The injustice is shown by the fact (Erik) Lamela should’ve had a second yellow, he didn’t, and he converted a penalty in the shoot-out.”
“We are accustomed to the influence of referees in our games, it’s nothing new, but I didn’t expect it in a European final,” he added to DAZN later.
“Let’s hope that Taylor, only officiates games in the Champions League and does the same bull**** there that he did tonight, and not in the Europa League.
The Portuguese later tried to confront Taylor as he was leaving the Puskas Arena, saying: “Congratulations, you f***ing disgrace”
His defender Diego Llorente also criticised Taylor. He said: “Today in all the dubious episodes, the yellow cards, the referee blew the whistle in favour of Sevilla.
“I am surprised because he is an international referee who has a great reputation.” REUTERS, AFP
