Mourinho reflects on Roma bond and Budapest heartbreak: 'I gave everything, and in return I received their love'

José Mourinho has explained the breakdown of his Roma tenure in an interview with Corriere dello Sport, linking the fracture with Friedkin ownership to the aftermath of the Budapest final and the Anthony Taylor controversy. Now Real Madrid manager, Mourinho said the consequences of the Taylor incident extended beyond his direct responsibility. "What happened to Taylor at the airport is not my responsibility," he stated. "The responsibility is the insults in the garage, and I only had to pay for that. I paid for it in my relationship with Roma's ownership, since they had a different approach. At that moment I was already out." Mourinho expressed deep affection for Roma's legendary figures Francesco Totti and Bruno Conti. "Francesco is untouchable. I will always stand behind him," he said. "Roma has a beautiful history with historic players, and I also think of Bruno Conti, whom I love." On the broader question of how top clubs treat their greatest figures, Mourinho acknowledged the complexities: "It's impossible for a club to open its doors to all past glories. I also understand the difficulties when you've had so many." Mourinho discussed his return to the Olimpico as an opponent, emphasising the emotional weight of the fixture. "I don't expect anything special," he said. "I only expect respect. I haven't started preparing for that match yet—neither as a coach nor as a former manager returning home. I haven't thought about it yet. I must defend myself and prepare to do my job well, and to do that I need to try to forget where I am and who I'm playing against. I did this with Inter, for example, or with Chelsea. It's never happened to me at Roma, and I must say it will be different. I'll take the road to the Olimpico as an opponent. It will be the first time I go there without the passion of Roma fans. And I'll have to prepare my players for that. Mine are of the highest level and are used to it, but in Rome there's a different atmosphere, a beautiful one." Mourinho added a pointed remark about Taylor's current role: "Taylor is now match delegate in Turkey. But the chief referee in Turkey was recently convicted and went to prison."

José Mourinho will return to the Olimpico as an opponent for the first time since his Roma departure, arriving on the bench of Real Madrid in a Champions League fixture within a week that will inevitably reignite memories of his connection to the club. In an interview with Ivan Zazzaroni for Corriere dello Sport, Mourinho reflected on his time in Rome and the affection of the supporters, while pinpointing the moment his relationship with the ownership definitively broke down. He spoke of the Conference League trophy Roma won during his tenure as a symbol of that era: "The other day a friend of mine, a procurer, sent me a photo of the Conference that is still at the entrance of the training ground." He also addressed the Europa League final lost to Seville, which he described as the peak of his connection with the fanbase. Mourinho stated: "They have been special with me. I always say: the day I arrived and I saw 1,000 people. I didn't understand why—I hadn't done anything yet. I didn't think I deserved it, but this is Rome and I understood that afterwards." He added: "Our relationship is special because they understood that I didn't care about my image or the relationships I could have with Italian football politics, with the press or with the ownership. I only cared about the good of Roma and the Roman fans. I fought for them, I gave everything." Regarding the Budapest final and its aftermath, Mourinho explained: "After the final, I go on holiday and when I return I am already dead for what the Uefa made me pay. What happened to Taylor at the airport is not my responsibility—what is my responsibility are the insults in the garage, and I should only pay for that." He described that moment as the breaking point with ownership: "And I paid for this in the relationship with Roma's ownership since they had a different approach. In that moment I was already out." On his departure itself, he said: "You know how much Roma's exit hurt me, but there is not a word from me against the club or the ownership. When I leave, I leave clean."

José Mourinho has spoken about his time at Roma and the bond he formed with the club's supporters in an interview with Corriere dello Sport. The former Roma manager described his connection to the club as special, saying that when he arrived at Fiumicino airport there were 1,000 people waiting for him despite having achieved nothing yet. "They showed me a love that touches you for the club," he said. "They understood that for me only Roma and the Romanists existed. I fought for them, I gave everything." Mourinho reflected on Roma's Conference League victory, noting that while some clubs might view such a competition as less significant, "for a club that doesn't win much it can have great significance." He revealed that a procurator friend had sent him a photograph of Trigoria's entrance where the Conference trophy remains displayed. The manager acknowledged making errors and losing matches but emphasized that supporters always understood his commitment. He described the Budapest final—the Conference League decider—as "the maximum point of this connection," though he stressed the emotional toll that followed: "When I returned I was dead," he said, alluding to the aftermath of incidents at the airport and disputes with the club's ownership over how those events were handled. "I was already dead and after a few months I went away." On Francesco Totti, Mourinho said: "Francesco cannot be touched. I don't feel close to him, nor the second who is in people's hearts after him. Roma has a beautiful history even with few moments of glory. It has historic players like Bruno Conti whom I love." He described the Budapest final as defining the supporters' sentiment toward him more than any trophy won. Regarding his upcoming return to the Stadio Olimpico, Mourinho said he expected no banners and was focused on preparation rather than emotion: "I have never had to make that journey to the stadium without passion from Roma's fans. I must also prepare my players for this, because it is a different way of living the match. Mine are players of the highest level, accustomed to playing finals of every kind, but I must prepare them for the beauty of the opponent—it will be very difficult to play there." Mourinho declined to engage in emotional preparation ahead of the fixture, stating he must concentrate on his job and defend himself tactically against Roma's threat.