Paulo Dybala recovered just in time. The Argentine was in doubt for the final of the Europa League between Roma and Sevilla, this Wednesday in Budapest, but practiced alongside the group, already better from the problem suffered in an ankle, and was available to José Mourinho to be present in the decisive match of the second most important European tournament at club level. "Winning would be gigantic. It would be great to make history for this club. Like Sevilla, Mourinho has yet to lose a final in Europe. Let's hope the Spaniards' streak ends this Wednesday," Paulo told Kicker magazine. Yes, La Joya is going for another Cup after the world title achieved with the Argentine National Team in Qatar.
Dybala did not want to miss this final, in which he will face a Sevilla full of Argentines (Gonzalo Montiel, Papu Gómez, Lucas Ocampos, Erik Lamela and the suspended Marcos Acuña) because he knows that it is a historic fact for Roma. Throughout its history, the Italian club only won two international titles: the defunct Fairs Cup in 1961 and the brand new Conference League in 2022. In the Europa League they reached the final in 1991 but lost to Inter while in the Champions League they were runners-up once, in 1984 when they lost on penalties against Liverpool.
For the Argentine it will be his second international final after losing to Juventus in the decisive match of the Champions League in 2017. "That final against Real Madrid still hurts me because you may only have one chance in your life to win the Champions League. I won many titles with Juve but I still regret that defeat," he said.
Praise for Mourinho
This Wednesday in Budapest, Hungary, a streak will be broken: Sevilla won the six European finals it played in its history and Mourinho won the five European finals in which he had to be present. Asked about the Portuguese coach, Dybala said: "Everyone knows him, everyone wants to see him and he really is a very special coach who treats all professionals and staff equally. That's their secret. Everyone feels important and brings out something extra in themselves for him. The defensive system against Leverkusen? It's football. Mou is a master at that and is a character you either love or hate, heh."
Dybala with Mourinho.
The final in Qatar
Dybala can write his name among the Argentine champions in his clubs after the world title obtained in Qatar. As already happened with Lionel Messi, champion in Ligue 1; Julian Alvarez, Premier League winner with City; Lautaro Martínez, winner of the Coppa Italia with Inter, and Nicolás Otamendi and Enzo Fernández (played the first semester), winners of the Portuguese league with Benfica. On that final against France and his penalty in the definition, he said: "I knew that the coach had made me enter to shoot in the penalty shootout. Fears and hope torment your head, especially since the whole final was an exciting rollercoaster. In the end I came in for that and I couldn't fail."
Dybala's penalty to Lloris in the final of the World Cup in Qatar.
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