In the 2023 Europa League final, two experts in winning European finals square off: Sevilla FC, unstoppable in their favourite competition, and AS Roma, coached by Mourinho, a manager who knows no failure in continental finals. Both teams have underperformed in their domestic leagues this season, and a win tonight will secure a spot in the Champions League for next season.
How did they reach the final?
Sevilla appears to be a new team after three and a half seasons of flirting with relegation… and the squad has hardly changed. Only four players joined in the winter, with one of them (Lucas Ocampos) returning from a loan spell in the Dutch league. However, the most significant changes of the season were in the coaching staff. They began with Lopetegui, who was unable to get the club to where it needed to be, and then Jorge Sampaoli was chosen to turn things around… but he, too, was unable to do so. José Luis Mendilibar, a very experienced coach who had never coached in European competitions, was appointed as the ship’s third captain… and this time, he found the proper recipe.
Although domestic competitions are not everything, Sevilla becomes an entirely different animal in the Europa League than in La Liga. Sevilla met PSV Eindhoven in the Europa League after being eliminated from the Champions League, and despite suffering, they defeated them with a 3-2 aggregate score. Then came Fenerbahce, another tough opponent, but Sevilla managed to defeat them 2-1 in the aggregate score, progressing further in the competition.
The opening leg of the quarterfinals became really tricky. Sevilla was trailing Manchester United 2-0 in the 80th minute… yet the “Red Devils” self-destructed, allowing Sevilla to equalise and finally lose 3-0 in Sevilla. The Andalusian team advanced to the semifinals, where they defeated Juventus 2-1 in extra time to win their eighth Europa League final. So far, they have never lost a final… but neither has the coach they are facing.
AS Roma has been more consistent with their coach, and the season has been relatively smooth… until now. They had wonderful stability under Jose Mourinho, but it’s all going apart at the worst time of the season. ‘I Giallorossi’ have not won a league match since beating Udinese 3-0 on April 16. Since then, they’ve only won twice in the Europa League, against Feyenoord and Bayer Leverkusen.
Mourinho’s club appeared certain to secure a Champions League ticket regardless of their performance in the Europa League prior to this terrible run, but everything has altered suddenly with their awful league play. Even if they lose in the final and on the final day of the league, they may find themselves back in the Conference League.
However, it is not all terrible news. Mourinho is one of those coaches that not only plays in finals, but also wins them. Following a difficult European campaign in which they defeated Real Sociedad and Red Bull Salzburg, Roma will face a Sevilla side in “their” competition.
Where and when is the Europa League final?
The Europa League final will take place on May 31 at the Puskás Arena in Budapest. The stadium, named after the Hungarian forward, was completed four years ago and has already hosted the 2020 Euro and is the largest stadium in the country.
The coverage will be available on BT Sport in the United Kingdom, and the match will begin at 8:00 PM British time.
