Sevilla made history once again at the Puskas Arena in Budapest. There they lifted their seventh Europa League after a penalty shoot-out in which Bono was once again the decisive goalkeeper that all coaches want to have in their team.
Mourinho knew that. But the Portuguese wanted to take the game to that stage with an extra-time period in which his players wasted too much time complaining of cramp in search of the final shootout instead of the second goal.
Once again it was the fearful Mourinho who prefers to keep his clothes on. Dybala's opener in the 35th minute left Sevilla stung as half-time approached and Mendilibar had not found the football to hurt Roma. En-Nesyri did not have his day, but he fought every ball that fell through his domain, behind. Bryan Gil, Torres and Ocampos eventually unpicked the Roman defence in the second half through quick ball movement.
Rakitic, Badé, Gudelj, Fernando, Telles... the same players who made the bed for Lopetegui at the beginning of the season. The same players who bet more on the World Cup than on their team. Some even packed their bags to change teams. The same ones who were unable to understand the complicated Sampaoli. That squad willingly accepted the arrival of Mendilibar and played football similar to that of Lopetegui's own time when he was fighting for the Spanish league.
The Basque coach was an apprentice throughout. He fell on his feet, the players raised their fingers and decided to give him a chance, which he earned with the humility of someone who doesn't know those levels of football, but doesn't want to impose his methods in the middle of March either.
And so it was that they were scoring points in the league and going through the play-offs in Europe. Manchester United and Juventus fell by the wayside and in the final, everyone knew that nothing could resist the all-conquering champions of their favourite competition. A sort of Real Madrid of the European second division, they also know how to rise from the ashes when a title is at stake.
Roma were more of a team than expected. Mourinho has spent years working those players like in his Inter days to bring a historic side back to the top level, but he continues to err on the side of not going for games for fear of losing them.
Dybala, Matic and Smailling are a high-level spine that in Serie A will only be able to aspire to play again in the Europa League after the last few games without three points and with Juventus on their heels.
Mendilibar has earned the right to continue coaching Sevilla. But Monchi also has the right not to repeat his mistakes, looking only at the short-term future of his team. The crossroads can only be solved by the Basque announcing his voluntary departure, he will not be short of teams. To continue and not start the season well could be a problem, not to continue and for the next coach not to find the support of the squad, could turn into another complicated season that will not have a happy ending.
