- Jose Mourinho’s Real Madrid will take on Serie A giants Roma next week in a reunion with strong emotional significance for the Portuguese coach
- Mourinho said “The Budapest final is the pinnacle of this connection” when discussing his bond with Roma
- He also commented on the charges facing City, joking that a final verdict may take a considerable amount of time
A Roma Reunion Loaded With Meaning
Jose Mourinho is heading towards an emotional meeting with Roma, with his Real Madrid side set to face the Serie A giants next week. The fixture carries particular weight for the Portuguese manager, who continues to regard his time in the Italian capital with deep affection.
In an interview with Corriere dello Sport, Mourinho reflected on the relationship he built with Roma and their supporters, placing the Europa League final in Budapest at the centre of that connection.
He said: “The Budapest final is the pinnacle of this connection.”
Roma fans still retain a strong bond with Mourinho. During his spell at the club, he became a symbolic figure in their pursuit of silverware and helped create an us-against-the-world mood around the team, something that strengthened his standing with the supporters.
🗣️ Josè Mourinho al @CorSport:
"Dopo la finale di Budapest c’è stato il punto massimo di questa connessione con i tifosi. Poi per me finisce la finale, andiamo in vacanza e quando torno sono già morto. La UEFA mi ha fatto pagare per una cosa che non era mia responsabilità, perché ciò che è accaduto in aeroporto non è stata colpa mia. Potevo pagare per le proteste contro l’arbitro nel garage dello stadio, non per quello. Ho pagato anche il rapporto con la proprietà, che aveva un approccio diverso dal mio rispetto a quello che è successo in quella finale. Da quel momento ero già fuori"
#RomaSpace | #ASRoma
— RomaSpace.eu | AS Roma (@RomaSpace_eu) October 8, 2026
Budapest Final and the Fallout
Mourinho also addressed the aftermath of that eventful final, including the treatment of referee Anthony Taylor by Roma fans. Asked about the incident, he separated his own actions from what later happened away from the stadium.
He responded: “My responsibility is only for what happened in the tunnel with the referee, not for what happened at the airport.”
When discussing his departure from Roma, Mourinho linked the outcome to his relationship with the Friedkins, explaining that the ownership had a different outlook from his own.
I paid the price with my relationship with the owners, who had a different profile than mine, and a different approach to that final.”
He then gave further context on how decisive the Europa League final became in shaping his future at the club.
Adding more detail to why the Europa League final was important, he said: “The day of the final in Budapest, I was fired: when I returned from vacation, I was already dead.”
Mourinho Adds View on Charges Facing City
Mourinho has also become the latest manager to comment on the charges facing City. Speaking again in his interview with Corriere dello Sport, he joked that the process could take so long that even those approaching 60 may need good fortune to witness the final outcome.
“I prefer to laugh a little, because I think we’ll have an ending,” Mourinho said in an interview with Corriere dello Sport. “We will have an ending. But the two of us, who are nearing 60, should be lucky enough to be here when the final verdict is delivered. Because now the sentence will come, and after a year, there will be an appeal.”
