Mourinho says Roma career ended after League final, denies blame

In a candid interview, Jose Mourinho declared his Roma chapter dead after the 2023 Europa League final, insisting the chaotic scenes targeting referee Anthony Taylor and his family at the Budapest airport were not his doing. He added that the incident had no bearing on his departure.

Europa League final and fallout

Mourinho spoke at length with Ivan Zazzaroni of the Corriere dello Sport about the 2023 Europa League final, which Roma lost on penalties to Sevilla after a 1-1 draw in extra‑time. Following the defeat he launched a furious rant in the car park, branding the referee’s performance a “disgrace”.

Mourinho on the airport incident

The day after the final, referee Anthony Taylor and his family were confronted by angry Roma supporters at the Budapest airport, with chairs reportedly thrown at them. Mourinho insisted he bore no responsibility for those “ugly scenes” and stressed that the harassment was unrelated to his actions.

He told the Corriere dello Sport, “I have never had and will never have a bad word to say against Roma, I don’t have any bad words to say about the ownership.” The statement underlined his desire to leave the club on a clean note.

Mourinho says UEFA killed him in Budapest while Roma dismissed him

Mourinho recalled his first arrival at Malpensa airport, where around 1,000 fans greeted him, saying he felt the weight of expectation before even playing a match. He said he never made a fuss about his image, the club’s politics or the press, focusing solely on Roma and its supporters.

The coach also reflected on his earlier triumph, noting that the 2021‑22 UEFA Europa Conference League trophy still sits in the entrance of the Trigoria training ground. He described that cup as a symbol of the bond he forged with the Giallorossi faithful.

Real Madrid return on Wednesday

Mourinho is now preparing to return to the Stadio Olimpico with Real Madrid for a Champions League tie on Wednesday evening at 20:00 BST. The match marks his first appearance back in Rome since leaving the club midway through the 2023‑24 season.

Speaking about the upcoming clash, he said, “Returning to Real Madrid is also a return home; I’ve been there for three years, but it feels like thirty because it was a special, special period.” The sentiment highlights his emotional connection to both clubs as he steps onto the pitch once more.