Jose Mourinho marked his 1000th game as manager with a trademark celebratory sprint down the touchline as AS Roma beat Sassuolo with a goal late on.
The side have now gone top of Serie A following Stephan El Shaarawy’s goal to seal a 2-1 win- and the occasion was not lost on Mourinho who enjoyed his iconic celebration once more.
Mourinho famously provided the celebration at Old Trafford in 2004 when his side Porto nabbed a last-minute equaliser against Manchester United in the Champions League.
The club went on to win the competition – and Mourinho’s name was firmly made. He left for Chelsea the following summer.
Mourinho brings out inner-child
The Roma manager told DAZN after Roma’s win: “During the week I was a liar, saying it wasn’t a special match. But it was a special match.
It was a match with a special number for me and I always wanted to remember a match like this for my 1000th game. I lied to everyone!
“It could have ended six to six, seven to seven, [Roma goalkeeper] Rui Patricio came up with two miracles, we missed a few goals. Extraordinary game, a tremendous emotion.
“Today I am not 58, but 14, when you start dreaming of a career in football. It was a child’s race, I apologised to [Sassuolo head coach Alessio] Dionisi, they played a fantastic game.”
The victory means Mourinho has won three out of his three possible games with Roma.
The capital side will be playing again on Thursday, in a Group C clash against CSKA Sofia in the Europa Conference League at the Stadio Olimpico.
Featured image credit: Getty
