Jose Mourinho He walks with his straight face since things are not defined yet. It is the half-time of the match that Roma draws in San Sebastián against Real Sociedad. In the first leg, at the Olimpico, the Rossoneri won the first leg of the round of 16 of the Europa League 2-0.
It seems like just a detail but it will soon become a symbol: his Rome – with Paulo Dybala as protagonist – accepted the quarter-finals of the second European competition in terms of relevance. After all, the zero shared with the Basque team was a Business Mou mode.
Symbol of what?, corresponds to the question. The answer is simple: the resurrection of the Italian teams on the big stage. The first indications were already shown on Tuesday. Napoli, Inter and Milan, three of the top four in Serie A qualified for the quarter-finals. None of the three conceded a goal in the 180 minutes of each series. The old Italian way, without so much bolts but with defensive rigor and cunning. As a banner at the Diego Maradona stadium in Naples read: “our way”.
That glorious Inter, the last champion
This fact It hasn’t happened since the 2004/05 season. Almost two decades. Further: the last team to champion Italy was Inter in the 2009/10 season, with José Mourinho as coach. And with the Argentine Diego Milito protagonist and scorer in the final against Bayern Munich. Since then, seven Spanish, three English and two German teams have won. And only one Italian made it to the final (Juventus twice).
This Thursday, for the Europa League, there were also passports for the Italians. In addition to Roma, Juventus also qualified. THE Old lady won 2-0 in Germany against Freiburg to go 3-0 on aggregate. Also in the second competition of the Old Continent Same peculiarity as the two previous days in the Champions League: neither of them conceded a goal.
An unusual drought of stocks
There is an amazing fact: since the 98/99 season, an Italian team has not prevailed in this Cup. In fact, in that season it was simply called UEFA and Parma won, after beating Olympique de Marseille. The bankruptcy specialist club (it was re-founded by him in 2015) now plays in Serie B and maintains Hernán Crespo as all-time top scorer with 94 goals.
There is more: Since then, the former UEFA trophies have been distributed to 11 Spaniards, four English, two Russians, two Portuguese and one Turkish, Dutch, Ukrainian and German. Only one team from the four-time world champions has made it to the end of this tournament, Inter Milan in the 2019/2020 season.
And here it is: always Mou
The nascent Conference League – the third in importance – had its inaugural edition last season. After Inter won the Scudetto in the 2009/10 season, an Italian team lifted a European trophy: Roma beat Feyenoord in the final. Who managed that team of champions? Yes, Mourinho, the only one who knows the weight of each cup. The Portuguese who puts his face into it for the resurrection of football.
In the current season there is an Italian who is still on the way in the Conference: it is Fiorentina who won 4-1 in Turkey against Sivasspor, after winning 1-0 in Florence. The only stain on Italy’s success this week was Lazio, who lost 2-1 to AZ Alkmaar in the Netherlands, the same result achieved in Rome.. Right in the same Olympic stadium where he will face the classic of the capital. Yes, the Mou.
Source: Clarin
Jason Root is the go-to source for sports coverage at News Rebeat. With a passion for athletics and an in-depth knowledge of the latest sports trends, Jason provides comprehensive and engaging analysis of the world of sports.