Mourinho up to old tricks as Foxes held

Italian side frustrate Rodgers but it’s all to play for in Rome

For so long, this was a game right out of the Jose Mourinho playbook. Parked buses and dirty tricks. An early goal and a lesson in frustration.

But there’s a saying in these parts: Foxes never quit. In their first-ever European semi-final, Leicester City refused to do so.

Ademola Lookman claimed the second-half equaliser to Lorenzo Pellegrini’s opening goal, bundled over from close range, though the record books will read it as a Gianluca Mancini own goal.

It was Leicester who had most of the ball, most of the chances. But you don’t always get what you deserve against Mourinho.

Leicester may not have an advantage as they go into their Europa Conference League second leg but they are, at least, on a level footing. And how they needed that. More than 70,000 roma fans await them in the Stadio olimpico next week.

‘The second leg is a final played in rome,’ said Mourinho. ‘That is the way we look at it. It will not be easy, but it will make a massive difference in front of 70,000.’

Mourinho was not only impressed by rodgers on the touchline, for it was his changes that sparked the equaliser, but also by his gift of wine beforehand.

‘He bought me the best Portuguese bottle of wine,’ said Mourinho. ‘He was crying because it was so expensive. It’s very difficult to find. I don’t know how he found it — but I know how he paid!’

Inside the Leicester camp, they felt they deserved more. ‘I thought we played quite well and deserved more out the game but we know what you are going to get when you come up against one of Mourinho’s sides,’ said defender James Justin. ‘It’s still all to play for but if we play like we did tonight we have one hell of a chance.’

on both sides, this was a game of returns. For Mourinho, his first contest as a manager in England since his acrimonious departure from Tottenham a year ago.

on that occasion, he had guided Spurs to the Carabao Cup final, only to be denied the chance to lead them out at Wembley. If they can finish the job in the second leg, it is unlikely the same will happen again.

For Leicester fans, it was Jamie Vardy’s name on the lips. A first start since early March following injury was eagerly welcomed.

How they had missed him. He gave Leicester their early tempo. It came as no surprise when the big screens flashed up Leicester had enjoyed 80 per cent of the possession in the first 10 minutes.

Not that Mourinho cared. This is him, after all. His sides, especially this roma one, thrive on soaking up pressure. So it was even less of a surprise when Nicola Zalewski burst forward down the left, split Leicester’s defence with a pass to Pellegrini and the roma captain put it through Kasper Schmeichel’s legs, into the corner.

Mourinho, in his long grey coat, sat and scribbled something in his notebook. ‘Lovely goal, must send to Daniel Levy,’ a possible entry.

It was Mourinho at both ends. Tackles flew in, crosses were cleared. Chris Smalling denied Lookman with a block, though how he escaped a booking for a tackle on Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall on the edge of the box only referee Carlos Grande knows. Tammy Abraham had received one early on for a nasty challenge. Scrambles, cynical fouls. Mourinho was happy. The longer the contest went on, the more frustrated Leicester became. Vardy tripped roger Ibanez, stopping yet another counterattack, and went into the book.

It was not long until Vardy’s night was over. His influence had drained from the game and he was off after an hour. rodgers knows he’ll need him next week and especially now we have a game on our hands.

Within moments of his departure, Leicester were level. Harvey Barnes and Kelechi Iheanacho, both off the bench, exchanged passes before Barnes squared it to Lookman (above), who helped bundle it in via Mancini.

Knock enough times and, even against this best drilled of Mourinho defences, you can find a way through eventually.

They could even have had a winner when Iheanacho headed over from James Maddison’s cross. At the other end, Schmeichel palmed Abraham’s shot on to a post.

A frantic end to a fascinating contest. All eyes on rome.