Jose Mourinho told his FC Porto players before the Champions League final that it would be a night they would never forget. So they'd better make it a good memory.
The players delivered Wednesday, beating Monaco 3-0 to give Porto its second triumph in the most prestigious club competition since 1987 and its second straight European title, after last season's UEFA Cup. After winning everything possible with FC Porto, Mourinho is off to seek more glory, most likely in England.
While the players were receiving the winner's medals, the coach slipped off the stage to embrace his wife and two children.
PHOTO: AP
"With all respect to my players, it was much more important to be with my family at this fantastic moment," he said.
"I told my players before the match that we'll never forget this day so we'd better make it a good memory."
Porto also won the title 17 years ago by beating Bayern Munich 2-1 in Vienna. But its run of recent successes now is two league titles in a row, a Portuguese cup, a UEFA Cup and a Champions League, all under Mourinho.
For Monaco coach Didier Deschamps, it meant he was unable to join the select band of stars to have won the title both as a player and a manager.
The man who led France to World Cup success in 1998 and a European Championship triumph two years later said his team's chances vanished when team captain Ludovic Giuly limped off after 23 minutes.
"It was not good news for us. Giuly is very important for our offensive style," Deschamps said.
Porto went ahead with its first shot at the goal in the 39th minute.
Carlos Alberto, a 19-year-old forward preferred as a starter to South African striker Benni McCarthy, fired home from 12m to give the Portuguese champion a 1-0 halftime lead.
"It was the most important moment of the match, but the second goal finished the match," Mourinho said.
Russian substitute Dmitri Alenitchev provided the pass for Deco to score the second in the 71st, and then took a pass from Derlei to add the third in the 75th and finish Monaco off.
"Porto had the experience of big matches, although we came well into the game," Deschamps said.
"Once they took the lead, it was difficult to come back. It made our job much more difficult. The second goal really set us back. It's a big disappointment but we have to accept it."
Croatia striker Dado Prso said the scoreline was too severe.
"We were not that bad," said Prso, who came in for Giuly.
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