2 weeks Ago By The Straits Times
Fenerbahce coach Jose Mourinho in the stands after being sent off in the Europa League draw with his former club Manchester United. ISTANBUL – Fenerbahce coach Jose Mourinho wryly congratulated the referee who sent him off as “one of the best in the world” after his side drew 1-1 with Manchester United in the Europa League on Oct 24, a score he teasingly called a good result for his former club. The Turkish side secured a draw after striker Youssef En-Nesyri headed in a second-half equaliser, following an early goal by United midfielder Christian Eriksen.
Mourinho, however, was typically the centre of attention and was shown a red card in the second half after a heated dispute following a penalty appeal with referee Clement Turpin, whom he claimed was monitoring his behaviour while simultaneously following the match. “The referee told me something incredible. He said at the same time he could see the action in the box and my behaviour on the touchline,” the Portuguese told TNT Sports.
“I congratulate him because he is absolutely incredible. During the game, 100 miles per hour, he had one eye on the penalty situation and one eye on my behaviour on the bench. “That is why he is the one of the best referees in the world.
” Regarding the match, Mourinho was full of praise for his side, whom he said were the better team on the night. “We played amazing. If we play like this in the Turkish league we destroy everything because of course we played against a team with a superior level than us,” added the 61-year-old, who was sacked by United in 2018.
“We had injuries. Our performance was extraordinary. I could not ask any more from the players.
“I know English media will say United didn’t play well but I think it would be fair to say we did an extraordinary match and we were better than them. A good result for Man United.” The Red Devils, meanwhile, have drawn all three of their European games this season and a point does little to ease the pressure on under-fire manager Erik ten Hag.
They are languishing in 21st of the 36-team table and with their chances of securing a top-eight finish to progress directly to the last 16 fading. Fenerbahce are in 14th on five points, with a top-24 finish enough to qualify for the play-off stage. United were without 10 players, including captain Bruno Fernandes, due to suspension or injury.
In Fernandes’ absence, defender Noussair Mazraoui started in an unfamiliar attacking midfield role and had a part to play in an impressive opening goal. Manuel Ugarte dispossessed former United midfielder Fred to launch a counter-attack that involved Alejandro Garnacho and Mazraoui before Joshua Zirkzee teed up Eriksen to blast home from the edge of the area. However, for the third time in three Europa League matches, ten Hag’s men failed to build on taking the lead and have now gone a full calendar year without winning a European game.
The manager was disappointed with the result, with his side also having now won just one of their last 11 matches in European competitions. “Of course when you are taking the lead, it (drawing) shouldn’t happen, we had chances to make a second goal. Disappointed not to win,” he said.
“Fenerbahce are a very good club, with very good fans and some good players. But we should keep the ball better in the first half. “They are a good team with a good manager.
It is not a bad point. But we want to win. We want to win every game.
We let the opponent get away with the point.” There remains plenty of time for United to dig themselves out of trouble with five more favourable looking Europa League fixtures to come against PAOK, Bodo Glimt, Viktoria Plzen, Rangers and FCSB. However, whether ten Hag will still be in charge for all of those fixtures remains a major doubt after winning just four of United’s opening 12 games of the season.
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