Neither Sevilla nor Jose Mourinho have lost any of the finals they have played in the Europa League. Sevilla and Roma meet tomorrow in this year's Europa League final at the Puskas Arena in Budapest, two teams that have not met their expectations in their respective leagues but who can redeem their season tonight. Sevilla's statistics in the competition are impressive. They have won the previous six finals they have played in. That is enough for Mourinho to give the Spanish team the status of favorite: "They are favorites because of history but we will have to wait. We have challenged history. It is an experience that we do not have and for them it is a normal thing. For us it is an extraordinary event and for the fans it is historic to come to a match like this. We will be there to fight", said the veteran Portuguese coach.
Roma has a higher budget than Sevilla, but that counts for little for Mourinho: "Is it true? It surprises me that Roma's budget is lower when Sevilla has high-level players and we have children like Zalewski or Bove, that the Last year they played in B. If our budget is higher, it's because Sevilla players earn little. I think Mendilibar and I are in a similar situation. Their players have more experience. We arrived with few games in Europe".
Mourinho denied that he has contacts with other clubs, as has been speculated in the Italian press: "Mendilibar's situation is much more complicated than mine. I have spoken to my two captains and they have made a request to which I have responded objective. They know exactly what I think. I'm in the situation I was in with Inter (2010). I hadn't signed anything yet with Real Madrid. I have zero contact with other clubs. The important thing is tomorrow and tomorrow we'll be ourselves ", he claimed.
The Portuguese coach assured that Paulo Dybala, who was doubtful due to a knee problem, is ready to play. He did not say how long: "Dybala is here to help. We have accelerated his recovery and tomorrow he will be able to help us." He did not give clues about the rest of the team but he spoke again about how well his players are: "The fact that experience does not win finals is applicable to Sevilla as well as to me. Obviously, the experience of the players is very important. They know well what it is to play these games. Mine also know what it is to play 30 games in a row in Europe, 15 last year and 15 this year. My players are not angels who have never played an important game", he declared.
Mourinho took the opportunity to send a compliment to Mendilibar: "Mendilibar's situation is different from mine and complicated because he doesn't have a contract and I do. I would renew him because he has reached a European final." He also remembered Real Madrid, a club he coached for three seasons: "I want the best for Real Madrid, for its president and its coach. Imagine what my relationship is like; it was a beautiful experience. I like the city and the press in there. The coaches don't play, they train but during the games they matter little. Our training and our work has changed. History is now made by the boys", he settled.
Then it was José Luis Mendilibar's turn in the press room: "We face this calmly. I have told Mourinho that I am delighted to face him, he has many finals and this is my first. I prepare it as one more game I don't want to transmit nervousness to the players. They are all available and that shows the desire they have to play".
The Basque coach did not want to speak in the long term: "I came for two and a half months and I only think about that. Things are going very well. There are two games left and then we will talk, I don't know if to leave or to continue. I'm not worried, I came for two and a half months and I focused on that. Happy as what they gave me and thinking about tomorrow's game", he said.
The coach also gave no clue as to who will replace the suspended Acuña, the left-back: "My players don't know the eleven yet, although I already have a clear idea of how to replace Acuña. I'll give eleven."
Mendilibar conveyed a message to the Sevilla fans (12,000 fans of the team will be in the stadium): "With the hardship they've had during the season, the rush is higher now. Let's see if we're capable of winning and giving them joy. I I just tell my players to play the way they know they have to."
