Mourinho rebuilding reputation as revitalised Roma eye European glory

Roma’s coach Jose Mourinho from Portugal (L) hugs Inter Milan’s coach Simone Inzaghi from Italy ahead of the Italian Serie A football match between Inter Milan and AS Roma at San Siro stadium in Milan on April 23, 2022. (Photo by MARCO BERTORELLO / AFP)

Jose Mourinho returns to England on Thursday on a wave of enthusiasm as upbeat Roma prepares for their third European semi-final in five seasons with fans firmly behind their charismatic manager.

Mourinho’s spell at Tottenham, the first since 2002 where he left a club without winning a trophy, left the man formerly known as The Special One’s stock at an all-time low.

A crop of attack-minded coaches had left Mourinho behind as he crept towards his 60s, but he is rebuilding his reputation in the country where his star has never waned thanks to the historic treble he won for Inter Milan nearly 12 years ago.

Defeat on Saturday at Italian champions Inter ended a 12-match unbeaten run in Serie A and fifth-placed Roma’s outside hopes of reaching the Champions League.

They were outclassed at the San Siro by a superior team who are heavily fancied to retain their league title but the 3-1 loss failed to end the positive vibes in Rome ahead of Thursday’s trip to Leicester for the first leg of their European Conference League semi.

Fans have been packing the Stadio Olimpico for recent matches with more than 65,000 attending wins over Salernitana and Bodo/Glimt and 1,600 will be in fine voice at the King Power Stadium hoping that their team end an England hoodoo.

Roma’s coach Jose Mourinho from Portugal walks on the pitch before the Italian Serie A football match between Inter Milan and AS Roma at San Siro stadium in Milan on April 23, 2022. (Photo by MARCO BERTORELLO / AFP)

Last season’s