Mourinho uncertain on Roma future after losing in Europa League final

José Mourinho claimed that he and his team left with their dignity intact despite accusing Anthony Taylor of refereeing “like a Spaniard”, describing some of his decisions as a “scandal” and expressing his desire not to come up against him next season following Roma’s Europa League final loss to Sevilla.

Roma were defeated by Sevilla on penalties after a 1-1 draw in Budapest, inflicting a first European final defeat on the Portuguese coach who had won his previous five, and the coach said afterwards that he was “tired of having to be the one that says we have been robbed”.

Mourinho also said he could not commit to continuing as Roma coach and demanded that changes be made, but insisted that he had not spoken to any other clubs about his future.

“I can’t say I will be here next season,” he said. “I will go on holiday on Monday, then we will speak. I told the owners I will tell them if I start talks with another club. As of now no other club called me. It is time for me to talk to the owners. It is time for the owners to talk to me.”

“I have to defend my lads,” Mourinho said in a long discourse after the final, in which a potential handball from Fernando did not result in a penalty for Roma and the VAR overturned an initial decision to give Sevilla a penalty for a challenge on Lucas Ocampos by Roger Ibañez.

There were thirteen cards for the players alone, plus at least three more for people on the Roma bench, including Mourinho himself, as they pressured the officials, but Mourinho claimed to be furious at what he saw as a robbery.

He did not mention the opening goal for Roma which was preceded by a push on Ivan Rakitic that the Sevilla coach Jose Luis Mendilibar said “might be a foul – but then we coaches always defend