Roma boss Jose Mourinho takes swipe at Spurs for firing him before the 2021 League Cup final

Jose Mourinho has taken a swipe at Spurs for the way they fired him ahead of the 2021 League Cup final – as he looks to achieve yet more European success with Roma.

The Portuguese manager has been one of the most clinical bosses in competition finals, including winning last year’s Europa Conference League final in Tirana against Dutch side Feyenoord.

Now he’s going for another piece of European silverware with Roma, in the Europa League final against Sevilla on Wednesday night in the Hungarian capital of Budapest. 

In the official pre-match press conference ahead of proceedings, Mourinho used the opportunity to take a swipe at Tottenham Hotspur – comparing the situation there, where he was jettisoned ahead of the 2021 League Cup final, with a much calmer atmosphere at Roma.

Mourinho said: ‘In Roma, they didn’t sack me before the final in Tirana. And in Tottenham, they sacked me before the final at Wembley. Roma gave me the chance to win the final at Tirana. At Tottenham, I had no chance.’ 

Mourinho was fired days before Spurs played the 2021 Carabao Cup final – which they lost

The Portuguese boss is unbeaten in five European finals, ahead of Roma’s game with Sevilla

Mourinho replaced Mauricio Pochettino as Tottenham manager in November 2019, but was sacked by the club in April 2021, just days before the Carabao Cup final against Manchester City.

Aymeric Laporte scored a goal eight minutes from time to secure the silverware for Pep Guardiola’s side – while Spurs continue to wait for trophy success.  

Two decades on from Mourinho’s first taste of European silverware, the UEFA Cup with Porto, he has the chance to win the rebranded competition with Roma. 

Mourinho is unbeaten in five European finals as manger, while Spanish club Sevilla have won all six of their previous outings in UEFA showpiece events.  

The winning side will secure a place in next year’s Champions League group stages.