Roma fought resiliently to defeat Bayer Leverkusen and go to their second European final under Jose Mourinho, setting up a Europa League final versus Sevilla. Jose Mourinho oversaw the Italian club’s first European title in almost 60 years as they won the Conference League in his first season in Rome.
The Giallorossi, who led 1-0 after the first leg, vexed the Bundesliga side throughout the match. Leverkusen were the only team to threaten a goal during the match and had the lion’s share of possession, but were unable to break down a usually well-drilled Mourinho side – who will play in the final next month.
Having said all that, there was no surprise a debate was reignited amongst the fans on Twitter, comparing Jose Mourinho with his long time rival Pep Guardiola. The Spaniard too has steered his Manchester City side to a second Champions League final of his tenure.

Fans can’t enough of Jose Mourinho pulling-off miracles with Roma
Pep Guardiola has won 30 trophies in total, including ten league titles and two Champions Leagues, in 13 years at Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Manchester City, but Jose Mourinho has always felt that his own record of 30 trophies over a 20-year span with Porto, Chelsea, Inter Milan, Real Madrid (where his rivalry with the Catalan turned toxic), Manchester United, Tottenham and now Roma does not compare favourably.
Most likely, Barcelona’s mesmerising thrashing of Manchester United in the 2011 Champions League final will always stand as Guardiola’s greatest accomplishment. However, Jose Mourinho’s standout accomplishment remains his Inter Milan defeating Guardiola’s Barcelona in the Champions League semi-finals in 2010 despite playing more than an hour of the second leg at the Nou Camp with 10 men.

On the other hand, Mourinho guiding Porto to Champions League triumph, and Roma to Conference League win are also debated as his best achievements. And his recent one, where he has driven the Italian side to their second consecutive European final could mean that the Portuguese could end up winning his sixth European cup, whereas Guardiola is still in search of his third and first since 2011.
Fans, as usual, couldn’t stop themselves from comparing the two coaches, as here are some best comments:
European Finals:
Jose Mourinho with Roma: 2 in 2 years
Pep Guardiola with Man City: 2 in 8 years
Special one for a reason ? pic.twitter.com/Gpf3aoUeUr
— M (@madridfooty_) May 18, 2023
The difference between Guardiola and Mourinho is:
Mourinho can easily take this Man City side to the Champions League Final too
But Guardiola can never take this Roma side to a Europa Final pic.twitter.com/iWeunXjbKv
— CR7 Rap Rhymes (@cr7raprhymes) May 18, 2023
If Jose Mourinho manage to win the Europa League after winning Conference League last season with Roma on a little budget, he will be the best coach in this generation. He won UCL with Porto and Inter without spending £1.4 billion
Jose Mourinho >>> Pep Guardiola
— EvAnS Ne-Yo (@Evans_NeYo) May 18, 2023
What Pep Guardiola is doing at City with billions is not extraordinary. It’s par for course with that spending. In fact, it’s under par considering what he hasn’t really achieved.
You want special? Jose Mourinho and what he has done at #ASRoma with THAT squad. #UEL pic.twitter.com/MuLjX46WJv
— Chetan Narula (@chetannarula) May 18, 2023
Would Jose Mourinho winning the Europa League with Roma be a greater achievement than Pep Guardiola winning the Champions League with Man City? ? pic.twitter.com/hwrrIY4zmp
— ESPN UK (@ESPNUK) May 12, 2023
Jose Mourinho back to back European Finals with Roma… €7m net spend.
Pep Guardiola. No Chance.
— Suhail (@SuhailChowdhary) May 18, 2023
Mourinho won Roma their first European trophy and is now in Europa final without spending much
Guardiola spent £1 billion+ before getting to a UCL final with Man City. Mourinho is clear, I arrest my case ? pic.twitter.com/hokW7dfKFv
— Nungua Burnaboy (@Views09) May 18, 2023
Jose Mourinho, truly the Special One. Please don’t ever compare him to the likes of Guardiola. Taking Roma into another European final in 2 years.
One note – he only spent 7 million euros on transfers this season. He doesn’t need billions to win ?! pic.twitter.com/vSe5bxIH05
— Mourinho Heritage (@SpecialOneStory) May 18, 2023
José Mourinho got the Italian Spurs back-to-back European finals.
But we gotta hear Guardiola getting called the best manager in the world for reaching one final after assembling the Avengers with a military budget in 8 years. pic.twitter.com/YkYj5WGk5y
— ?? Perisnitch (? enjoyer) (@snajaths) May 18, 2023
Pep Guardiola will never be better than Mourinho. Reaching two European Finals in a row with Roma is way harder than reaching a final with the richest Club in the World. Same as Ronaldo winning a title with Portugal. Its 100 times harder then Messi winning a title for Argentina.
— Albi ?? (@albiFCB7) May 18, 2023
Pe Guardiola would have needed 1bn Euros and on form classic players to do what Jose Mourinho is doing now. The Special One indeed pic.twitter.com/XQr6x1kox5
— GANZ (@JusticeGanz) May 18, 2023
Winning the Champions League with Inter and Porto and what he’s doing with Roma. Shit like this is why Mourinho is that guy and not Pep
— Trey (@UTDTrey) May 18, 2023
Give this Roma team to Pep Guardiola and he’ll go trophyless in his whole career. Mourinho, the special one ?
— kofi ĀDØFÔ (@_adofo69) May 18, 2023
I will choose Jose Mourinho over Pep Guardiola anytime any day!! The special one. ? pic.twitter.com/qcJ2Rwcp56
— Ghana Yesu (@GhanaYesu_) May 11, 2023
What Mourinho has done with AS Roma is bigger football legacy than what Pep Guardiola has done with Manchester City. Undeniable fact! pic.twitter.com/kYhJrn3Wo9
— ?????? ??????? (@isuccess_) May 18, 2023
Winning Europa league with Roma is harder than winning Champions league with Manchester City tbh. If Mourinho manages to win the europa league after winning the conference league last season, the GOAT debate between him and Pep Guardiola will end.
— Al’ameen (@A__yabo) May 18, 2023
Jose Mourinho taking Roma to another cup final. A Better coach than oil money pep Guardiola pic.twitter.com/WHrKjLTG4Z
— OBAMA???? (@1Obama_) May 18, 2023