There are those who do not forget Tirana and those who instead want to look ahead.
In fact, the first leg of the quarter-finals of the Europa League is not only a match between Feyenoord and Roma, but also between the two coaches.
On one side Slot, on the other Mourinho.
And if the Dutch coach takes the opportunity to tease his colleague, the Special One for the Rotterdam team has nothing but praise.
"Mourinho? I prefer Guardiola", said Slot who then speaking of last May's final in the Conference League underlined how Roma "had only one chance".
For this reason, tonight's one, for the Dutch coach, looks a lot like the first part of a revenge that he wants to consume eleven months later.
But woe to talk about Feyenoord of Tirana to Mourinho.
"Even if it seems like a permanent thing,
I can't think like that.
That match ended there - explained the Portuguese - The trophy in Trigoria just makes me remember that we won against them and that's it". Dutch tournament, he will be champion in a few weeks.
We, on the other hand, are not the strongest team in Italy, nor in the Europa League, even if we can win tonight.
We will play with what we have, that is, balance". Non-random words just as when in the conference, referring to Belotti and Abraham, he specifies that "neither of them could play". Here then is the module with the false nine to take hold seen on Saturday against Turin and therefore with Dybala as first striker, ahead of Wijanldum and Pellegrini. And the Giallorossi captain himself, after the
flu of the past few days, he will return to the title in Europe.
However, Mourinho has no doubts about him.
"Lorenzo is captain and remains so, he continues to be an important player. It is true that last year he scored more goals, but maybe the best is coming...".
A caress that he also gives to Belotti and Abraham of whom he says "happy, because they are very well" despite the fact that the performance in front of goal is not that of the best times.
But tonight "it will only be the first half" recalled the Special One, which is why balance will be fundamental.
This will also be given by Smalling who in the next few days will sign the two-year renewal until 2025 for what according to Mourinho "can be a perfect marriage", but also specifying how Chris' renewal "is not linked to mine".
For that of the Portuguese, he will wait for the end of the season, in the meantime his mind will only go to the pitch and tonight's match which will not see Roma fans away.
And the same will happen seven days later at the Olimpico in the second leg when the match will instead be forbidden to Dutch fans.
