""Mourinho has a special style of play. He's a coach we know very well," he said. "That [2023 Europa League semi-final] was a defeat and a disappointment which we drew a huge amount of energy from. "It was an incredible incentive for the successful season that followed. Sometimes, it takes moments like that to achieve something big. The emotions there helped us a lot later on.""
""It's important to understand in this match that both teams are here to win," Hjulmand said. "There will be no holding back and there will be a lot of energy. Both need the win.""
"Leverkusen are meeting Mourinho for the first time since the 2022-23 Europa League semi-finals, when the Portuguese coach guided Roma to a 1-0 aggregate victory. Nevertheless, Xabi Alonso's side responded to that setback in emphatic fashion the following season, winning the Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal before suffering their only defeat of the campaign in the Europa League final, going down to an Ademola Lookman-inspired Atalanta. And Rolfes remembers the "incredible incentive" that defeat by Roma gave Leverkusen."
Bayer Leverkusen previously lost to Jose Mourinho's Roma in the 2022-23 Europa League semi-finals, 1-0 on aggregate. That defeat provided the club with energy and motivation that fuelled the following season's achievements, including the Bundesliga title and the DFB-Pokal, with the only loss coming in the Europa League final to Atalanta. Simon Rolfes described the Roma defeat as an "incredible incentive" and noted Mourinho's special style. Leverkusen travel to Benfica seeking their first Champions League victory this season. Benfica have lost their opening three matches and both teams are expected to play with high energy and intent to win.
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