RICARDO PEREIRA says he is to disappoint his boyhood hero – by dumping Jose Mourinho's Roma out of the Europa Conference League.
Despite being born in Lisbon, Pereira supported Porto as a kid and was nine when Mourinho led his boyhood favourites to the Uefa Cup, then followed it up with Champions' League success.
Now, despite his love for the Special One, Pereira says he'll be doing everything in his power to prevent Mourinho completing a clean sweep of all three Euro trophies by adding the first-ever Europa Conference League to his collection.
Pereira, 28, said: "I grew up admiring Jose.
"As a Porto supporter I was aware of him of course.
"He was the coach of my club and he achieved great things there.
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"He won the Uefa Cup and the Champions' League with Porto, which were amazing successes.
"I have met him once before, when we played Manchester United, but it was a quick thing.
"But during the game all that will be forgotten, for sure.
"This is a massive semi-final and we have the opportunity to reach Leicester's first European final and win a major European trophy, which would be a huge achievement.
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"Jose will want his work with Roma this season rewarded with a trophy and he is a coach who has always won things in his career.
"But we want to win the competition too.
"This is our last European game of the season at home this season and I'm sure our fans will be behind us from the first whistle."
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