AS Roma's 4-1 penalty shoot-out loss to Sevilla in the Europa League final on Wednesday has raised uncertainty over the future of manager Jose Mourinho.
With this defeat, Roma’s hopes of qualifying for the next season’s Champions League were dashed raising doubts about the 60-year-old’s continuity in the Italian capital. Speculation surrounding a potential move to Paris St Germain further intensifies the speculation surrounding Mourinho’s tenure at Roma.
“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.”
“I will go on holiday on Monday, then we will speak. I told the owners I will tell them if I start talks with another club. As of now no other club called me. It is time for me to talk to the owners. It is time for the owners to talk to me.”
Although it was Mourinho’s first loss in a European final, he expressed pride in his team’s effort and acknowledged the difficulties faced during the season.
“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.”
Referee Anthony Taylor, was criticized by Mourinho for issuing an excessive number of yellow cards.
“It was an intense, masculine, vibrant game with a referee who seemed Spanish. It was yellow, yellow, yellow all the time,” he said.
“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
