José Mourinho could have easily been confused for one of the 70,000 spectators inside the Stadio Olimpico, gesticulating on the touchline in a black vest and grey hooded sweatshirt.
Before the Europa Conference League semifinal, the outspoken Portuguese coach encouraged Roma fans that they should come to the stadium "to play" rather than "to watch." The fans did their part by creating a tight and tense atmosphere for 90 minutes, while Mourinho did his part by guiding Roma to a 1-0 victory (2-1 on aggregate) over Leicester on Thursday and a place in the final.
"It's a family triumph," she said ""Not just the one who was on the pitch and on the bench, but also the one who was inside the stadium," Mourinho stated. This connection and sense of family we've developed with the fans is our greatest achievement."
It will be Mourinho's sixth European final in over two decades, and he has won all four he has coached in: the 2003 UEFA Cup and 2004 Champions League finals with Porto, the 2010 Champions League final with Inter Milan, and the 2017 Europa League final with Manchester United.
"I've gotten less selfish and more like a father over the years."
Mourinho is the first coach in UEFA history to reach the final with four different clubs (Porto, Inter, United and Roma).
"I made a final with every team I coached," he says "Mourinho explained. "That's excellent."
Furthermore, if Mourinho leads Roma to victory over Feyenoord in the May 25 final in Tirana, Albania, he will become only the third coach in UEFA history to win three distinct tournaments, following Giovanni Trapattoni and Udo Lattek, who each won the European Cup, UEFA Cup, and Cup Winners' Cup.
Roma seized the lead in the first half thanks to a Tammy Abraham header, then held on for a slender victory as the Giallorossi packed in and defended throughout the second half.
The method works despite the fact that Mourinho's squads are rarely beautiful.
Mourinho added, "I think our performance was amazing." "Others may disagree, but when your goalkeeper makes two saves in 120 minutes against a Premier League side with so much attacking talent, you know you've done something right."
While Roma is in fifth position in Serie A and has missed out on a place in the Champions League, Mourinho's first season at Roma has already been a triumph thanks to the debut edition of the third-tier Conference League.
It's a far cry from a year ago, when Mourinho's career appeared to be on the decline following dressing-room apathy and growing disenchantment with his tactics, which cost him his job at Tottenham.
Mourinho, who is approaching 60, has proved that he is ready to wait while attempting to turn Roma into a title contender.
Abraham, a 24-year-old forward whom Mourinho persuaded Roma to spend 40 million euros ($44 million) on in August, has been instrumental throughout the season. After Alan Shearer (11 in the 2004-05 UEFA Cup) and Stan Bowles, he is third all-time among English players in a single season of European competition with nine goals (11 in the 1976-77 UEFA Cup).
"We have a winning coach on our team." But it's been a learning curve," Roma defender Gianluca Mancini explained. "It's not like having Mourinho on the bench automatically means you'll win."
It will be Roma's first European final since losing to Inter Milan in the 1991 UEFA Cup final. Roma also lost in a penalty shootout against Liverpool in the 1984 European Cup final, which was held at its home stadium.
Claudio Ranieri, a former Roma player and coach who grew up supporting the team in Rome's slaughterhouse suburb of Testaccio, recalls those defeats vividly.
When an image of Ranieri was flashed onto the giant screens at each end of the stadium during the 53rd minute, both Roma and Leicester fans clapped in unison — so much so that after the game was switched back to match coverage, Ranieri reappeared on the screens for a second time, standing up and waving in acknowledgement.
Of course, Ranieri is most known for leading Leicester City to an unlikely Premier League triumph in 2016.
This night, however, was all about Mourinho, who cried when the game ended.
"In terms of the social dimension of the club, this is a great club without the trophy room," Mourinho added. "This is merely a final, not a trophy, but it means a lot to them." My feelings were towards them."
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