Europa League: Mourinho thinks final but Alonso says it’s not over

Bayer Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso has learned ‘a lot’ from José Mourinho but warns the Roma coach that there are ‘no friends’ when the game begins.

The former Spain international and Mourinho will reunite again on Thursday in a Europa League semifinal second leg at the BayArena. The Giallorossi won the reverse fixture at the Stadio Olimpico 1-0 last week.

Alonso played 151 games at Real Madrid under Mourinho, scoring three goals.

“I love him and I’ve learned so much from him. It will be nice to see him, but when the game begins there are no friends,” the former midfielder said at a pre-match press conference on Wednesday, as quoted by Il Corriere dello Sport.

The pair won one Copa del Rey, one La Liga title and one Spanish Supercup during their time in Madrid.

 “We’ll need a good balance between intensity, passion and good defence. Roma are a strong team, but we can make it if we give our best in our stadium and with our fans,” continued Xabi Alonso.

“We are happy to have reached the semifinals, but we want more. For a team not accustomed to having these opportunities, this is a golden chance.

“We expect an intense game against Roma but want to believe in it with our fans. Hopefully, it will be a historic night at the BayArena.”

When asked what his team would have to change after the first leg, Xabi replied: “We have to score, this is the only difference.”

Mourinho who already see Roma in the final assured that Paulo Dybala and Chris Smalling could play against Bayer Leverkusen, noting technically Roma have ‘already won the Europa League’ by being the only side remaining who started the competition.

The Giallorossi won a very tight first leg tie thanks to the goal from youth product Edoardo Bove, plus a late goal-line clearance by Gianluca Mancini. They therefore have a slender 1-0 advantage going into this game, but with the away goals rule scrapped, any defeat by a one-goal margin would prompt extra time.

“They can all play. All of them,” said Mourinho. “Only Karsdorp, Llorente and Darboe are unavailable. The issue is how long they can play, not due to the injury, but the fitness levels. In Smalling’s case, he hasn’t played a single minute in weeks, while Dybala rarely plays more than 30 minutes when he’s not 100 per cent.

“This is why we have to think about how long they can play, 20, 30, 40, 60 minutes, and what is best for the puzzle of the match.”

Mourinho, who has been repeatedly linked with Paris Saint-Germain, was asked if the Europa League will in any way affect his future.

“No, I don’t want to talk about that. There is a game to be played , which isn’t even the Final, so the focus is on that. I am not even thinking about the Final, let alone about my future.”

The Special One has already reached five European Finals in his career, including last season’s Conference League.

“The past is the past, we do not know the future, so this is the present and that’s what counts. At Porto I had two European Finals in successive years. I really want to reach this Final now, not for me, as I have become a different person who thinks more about others than about myself. I want it for the lads and the fans.

“The fans are simply extraordinary and the lads are incredible, having a season where they give absolutely everything in many moments of difficulty where people had to surpass their limits. They deserve a lot.

“Nobody gives you anything for free in football, so we need another extraordinary performance to reach the Final.”

Roma are considered the favourites to lift the Europa League this season for some bookmakers and that is largely due to Mourinho’s presence.

“I have zero interest in superstition, bookmakers or being considered favourites. What I’ve been saying for 20 years is that if you reach the semi-final, you have a 25 per cent chance of winning the trophy and a 50 per cent chance of reaching the Final. That is how I feel.

“I don’t know what direction the game will take, it’s difficult to say. What we want to do is reach the Final, but we don’t know if it’ll be decided in 90 minutes, extra time or penalties, but there is a lot of football still ahead of us and with a 1-0 lead, even if Bayer or Roma score, you still cannot say the game is going in any direction. It’s going to be a very long match.”