José Mourinho could become the sole record coach in the European Cup if he wins the Europa League title.
Like the former Bayern coach Giovanni Trapattoni, the AS Roma coach has already won a European Cup five times.
But before the final, there is still the semi-final second leg at Bayer Leverkusen on Thursday (9 p.m. / RTL). “I don’t think about the past and my old endgames,” said the 60-year-old Mourinho: “I only think about the present.”
Mourinho won the Champions League with FC Porto in 2004 and with Inter Milan in 2010, the UEFA Cup with Porto in 2003, the Europa League with Manchester United in 2017 and the first edition of the Conference League with Roma last year.
Mourinho, who coached current Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso at Real Madrid for three years, has a lot of respect for the task at Bayer.
“Nothing has been decided yet. There is still a long way to go. And we have to put on an exceptional game to get to the final,” he said after the 1-0 win in the first leg, preparing for all scenarios: “I don’t know if we have to go to extra time or even penalties. But we want to reach the final.”