Five European finals, five trophies for José Mourinho, the first manager to win the new Conference League, with a pragmatic 1-0 victory over Feyennord in Tirana, Albania. With well-measured doses of efficiency, great stamina and even some cynicism, were it not for the Italian team led by Mourinho, Roma snatched the trophy from Feyenoord’s hands and celebrated. At the right moment, a goal scored by Zaniolo, and then a lot of struggle, a lot of courage and Rui Patricio in defense of a meager result that secured the 26th title of the most decorated Portuguese coach.
With 22,000 fans in Tirana’s National Stadium and more than twice as many at Rome’s Olympic Stadium, Feyenoord entered the game better, with a high block and very heavy pressure creating a lot of problems for the Roman defense, who couldn’t get out of the game. . The Dutch had more ball but also had a hard time finding places in the last third when Orkun Kokchu was in the spotlight in organizing the game.
Jose Mourinho kept Sergio Oliveira on the bench but had to take him out early after Mkhitaryan, who had doubts about the game, resented an injury he sustained in the semi-final against Leicester.
Roma closed well and tried to stretch the game, trying to take advantage of the opposition’s compact position on the field, but the truth is that long passes were not always successful for Roma. A game that quickly became boring, as there were a lot of fights on the field, and there were no emotions at the gate.
Zaniolo scores and changes the game
Everything changed dramatically in the 32nd minute, when Mancini sent Zaniolo into the box with another long pass. The talented midfielder received the ball in the chest, left the central defenders on his back, and when Biylov left, he pierced the ball through himself with the toe of his boot. Made. The goal that was so celebrated by the Romans and which visibly shocked the Dutch. Roma have become much better at managing time and space in the moments after the goal, forcing the opposition to run after the ball.
Feyenord managed to return to the game only in the last moments of the first half, pressing on both flanks and scoring a lot of goals into the penalty area, but only Kokchu managed to scare Rui Patricio with a scoring shot before the break.
It was easy to guess, but Feyennord bounced back very strongly in the second half and hit the post twice immediately after the debut. The first move was the result of a cross from the right by Sinisterra as Mancini tried to get ahead of Trauner by leaning towards the post. When reloading, Thiel fired hard, but Patricio saved. But the Portuguese goalkeeper’s best save was saved for the next minute. Bomb Malasia on the edge of the penalty area, and Patricio flies and hits the ball back into the post.
Rome shuddered. It was permeable, with many players spawning behind the Romans’ first line. Mourinho figured out what the mistake was and fixed it in two steps with Veretout’s entry, bringing Cristante back into the “latch” to form a triangle with the Frenchman and a slightly more advanced Sergio Oliveira.
Feyenoord still had possession, but now they were playing farther from Patricio’s post, and it was Roma who had the sovereign opportunity to double the lead. Great pass to Veret and Pellegrini’s shot, but Beelow saves.
The truth is that the Roman defense, with three centre-backs in the spotlight, never lost stability and Mourinho managed to shape the team and adapt it to the challenges Feyenoord posed, finishing the second half much more comfortably than it had before. began.
So Mourinho won the most important end of a career, as he classified it, without much brilliance, without much spectacle, but with great insight and intelligence. to Mourinho.
