Champions League draw: Roma players hope for Mourinho reunion
Quick summary
AS Roma players have expressed hope that the Champions League draw pits them against former manager José Mourinho, whose current club could face them in the league phase.
Full article
Attributed to original sourceSky Sport Italia reports that Roma players would be ‘intrigued’ by the prospect of facing José Mourinho’s Real Madrid at the Stadio Olimpico in the Champions League, given the strong bond the Portuguese built with them and the fans.
Several Roma players, especially some of the most experienced in the dressing room, would love to reunite with their ex-coach Mourinho in the Champions League group stage, reports Sky Sport.
ROME, ITALY – AUGUST 24: Donyell Malen of AS Roma celebrates scoring his team’s third goal with teammate Mario Hermoso during the Serie A match between AS Roma and ACF Fiorentina at Stadio Olimpico on August 24, 2026 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images) Reporter Angelo Mangiante from Trigoria spoke to a few Roma players before today’s draw, starting at 18:00 CET , and reported live on TV that many of them would be “intrigued” to meet Mourinho at the Olimpico.
Roma haven’t played in the Champions League since 2018-19, but are in pot 2 thanks to their positive results in European competitions in recent years. Under Mourinho, the Giallorossi won the Conference League in 2021-22 and reached the Europa League Final the following season.
BUDAPEST, HUNGARY – MAY 31: Referee Anthony Taylor looks on with Jose Mourinho, Head Coach of AS Roma, during the UEFA Europa League 2022/23 final match between Sevilla FC and AS Roma at Puskas Arena on May 31, 2023 in Budapest, Hungary. (Photo by Naomi Baker/Getty Images) TURIN, ITALY – JANUARY 21: Jose Mourinho, Head Coach of Benfica, looks on during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD7 match between Juventus and SL Benfica at Juventus Stadium on January 21, 2026 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images) Mourinho left a strong mark at the Olimpico and among most of Roma fans, so the players, especially the most experienced ones, will be fascinated to reunite with Mou in Rome.
Roma will be drawn with two clubs from pot 1, which, besides Real Madrid, also includes Bayern Munich, Liverpool, Inter, Manchester City, Arsenal, Barcelona and Atletico Madrid.
Mourinho was suddenly sacked by Roma in January 2014 without even having the chance to say goodbye to the fans, and this is a reason why some Giallorossi stars hope to reunite with the Special One in the Champions League.
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What happened
With the Champions League league-phase draw approaching, several AS Roma players have publicly stated they would welcome the prospect of being drawn against José Mourinho, the Portuguese coach who led them to the 2022 Europa Conference League title. Mourinho, who departed Roma in early 2024, is now managing another club in European competition, making a potential reunion possible. The players frame the matchup as a chance to reconnect with a beloved former boss rather than as a competitive concern, highlighting the strong personal bonds forged during his tenure in the Italian capital.
Chance analysis
Roma's relationship with Mourinho remains one of the more emotionally charged manager-club connections in recent European football. The fact that players still speak warmly about him two years after his departure speaks to the cultural imprint he left on the squad, particularly through the Conference League triumph. A draw that produces a Mourinho reunion would add a strong narrative layer to the league phase, but Roma's on-field focus will remain on securing advancement regardless of the opponent.
No competitive impact — a potential emotional storyline rather than a tactical or availability change for either side.