“Xabi Alonso threatens to miss Europa League final after heated encounter with Mourinho”

After the heated encounter at the Stadio Olimpico, Xabi Alonso hugged his old teacher. The first tactical duel went to José Mourinho – and so Alonso threatens to miss the Europa League final with Bayer Leverkusen. After going 0-1 (0-0) in the first leg of the semi-finals at AS Roma, the Werkself face a very difficult task in the second leg in a week’s time if they want to reach the third European Cup final in the club’s history after 1988 and 2002 and beyond dream of their first title since 1993.

DFB sports director Rudi Völler followed the intense duel between his two heart clubs from the stands, as did national coach Hansi Flick, Uefa President Aleksander Ceferin and Roma icon Francesco Totti. They all saw how Alonso and his team matured for a long time against the tactical tricks and mind games of Roma coach Mourinho. Then the Italian U21 international Edoardo Bove managed the goal of the evening (63rd).

Alonso and Mourinho hugged warmly

“The Romans were more dangerous in the second half. At the front it was a bit too little for my taste. 1-0 is not the best result. But it could have been worse. We felt we could beat them. We still have hope,” said Bayer keeper Lukas Hradecky. Match winner Bove said: “The victory is deserved. We did a good job. It will be tough in the second leg in Leverkusen, anything can happen. We’re trying to win the game.”

The Portuguese star coach Mourinho has already won a European Cup five times, from 2010 to 2013 he was Alonso’s coach at Real Madrid. Bayer had won the Uefa Cup in 1988 as a precursor competition, followed by the DFB Cup in 1993 as the only title. In 2002 the Rhinelanders reached the Champions League final, but lost 2-1 to Real Madrid.

After the game, Bayer complained about three injuries

The Roman fans had provided an almost intimidating setting with a loud anthem, a choreo across all ranks and some firecrackers shortly before the game. But Bayer was unimpressed and almost got off to a flying start. 43 seconds were played when Robert Andrich got a shot from about twelve meters after a cross from Piero Hincapié. But it was too central and half-height, so the Portuguese goalkeeper Rui Patricio, who has been the record player in the Europa League since Thursday with 67 appearances, had little trouble. The Portuguese European champions of 2016 would have had no chance in the sixth minute, but Florian Wirtz narrowly missed.

Alonso and Mourinho greeted each other with a warm hug before the game. As soon as the game started, however, an interesting duel between the two took place on the sidelines. Alonso conducted a lot and paced up and down in the coaching zone. For standards, he sat on the bench and left the classification to his assistant Sebastian Parrilla. Mourinho mostly followed the action with his hands in his pockets. But he kept going back to the bank and talking to his assistants. Out of nowhere, tantrums or shouts of encouragement suddenly erupted, and Mourinho kept trying to push his team or throw the opponent or the referees off balance.

Almost motionless, however, he accepted Roma’s only big chance in the first half. As so often, his team had become dangerous through a set piece. After a free-kick from captain Lorenzo Pellegrini, Roger Ibañez headed in from five yards out, but Bayer keeper Lukas Hradecky made a splendid save with his right hand. After that, the game calmed down until the break.

After the change, Roma put a lot of pressure on and Bayer struggled to calm the game down. Which didn’t quite work out. And promptly it was 1-0 when Edmond Tapsoba and Andrich couldn’t get the ball away, Hradecky first saved against Tammy Abraham and Bove was successful in the follow-up shot. Shortly before the end, Jeremie Frimpong had Bayer’s chance to equalize, but Roma defender Bryan Cristante saved his batted goalkeeper with a chest just before the goal line (87′).

Bayer suffered three injuries after the game: Midfielder Andrich was driven out of the stadium on a golf cart at 11:38 p.m. “He had a feeling in his left foot. We have to wait for the tests,” said coach Xabi Alonso about his top performer. He was “a little worried” about defender Kossounou, who had already limped off after 34 minutes, supported by the doctors. It doesn’t look good.” Sports director Simon Rolfes also didn’t seem to be expecting anything good: “It might be a bit more for Odi.”

Those responsible are less worried about winger Jeremie Frimpong. “He took a beating in the first half and again at the end,” said Rolfes. “It’s probably not that much of a problem with him though.”