When Roma takes on Feyenoord in the inaugural Europa Conference League final on Wednesday, Jose Mourinho will be looking to extend his flawless record in European finals.
All four of his finals have been won by the Portuguese, two with Porto and one each with Inter Milan and Manchester United.
He will be the first manager in European final history to coach four teams.
“If I win I will become the first one to win all European trophies, but that’s only if I win,” said Mourinho.
He led Porto to Uefa Cup success in 2003 and a stunning Champions League triumph the following season.
He claimed Europe’s top club prize again with Inter Milan in 2010 and took Manchester United to the Europa League title, formerly the Uefa Cup, in 2017.
Mourinho famously dubbed himself “a special one” when he first took charge of Chelsea in 2004, a moniker he now seems keen to leave in the past.
“The ‘Special One’ story is an old story,” added Mourinho. “It was when I was at the beginning [of my career]. When you have more maturity and stability, you think more about the people and less about yourself.
“When you arrive at a final after a season of work, the work is done. It’s the team’s moment, not the moment of an individual.
“I don’t believe in magical potions, I don’t believe in magical spells. There’s nothing special to be done, just us to be us as a team. Knowing the qualities we have, knowing the limitations we have.
“For me, no matter how the final ends, this is a positive season for us.”
Feyenoord have not reached a European final since winning the 2002 Uefa Cup while Roma have not won a trophy since lifting the Italian Cup in 2008 and not won a European trophy since the Fairs Cup – the predecessor to the Uefa Cup/Europa League – in 1961.
